My favourite player and collaborator on my favourite podcast talking about one of my proudest achievements as a trainer.

It is a pity the photo is not credited, because for me it is probably one of the best photos from the Candidates.

One idea:

4 six player double RR (with their own qualification system to even be able to play)
2 openish Swiss tournaments
1 FIDE World Cup

No one should ever qualify for the Candidates again without finishing first place in a qualification tournament. No more 2nd/3rd place. No convoluted points system. Win a tournament or you don’t play.

Excited to meet and reconnect with a bunch of chess players!

And Renier Castellanos called it in round 10 that Gukesh D would win! Wild!

New Perpetual Pod! Renier Castellanos on the Story Behind How he Earned the GM Title at Age 41! 🔥
- Why he Almost Gave Up
- The Importance of Daily Practice & Community
- Study Tips, Book Recs, Next Plans, more!

I am pleasantly surprised that Gukesh won the Candidates. Pleased, because I think he is absolutely fantastic. A genuine nice person, with big passion for the game and a strong work ethic. Pleased, because of all my friends in India and how much it will do for Indian chess.
I am

The mamba mentality in #Gukesh is just 🔥🔥🔥. Congrats to Mr. Iceman Gukesh D for an awe-inspiring victory at the #Candidates2024 . To do it at the age of 17 is something else . Bigger showtime is waiting for November #Gukesh vs #Ding India🇮🇳🇮🇳 vs China 🇨🇳🇨🇳🍿🍿

Fabi, Nepo and Naka also showed incredible fighting spirit.
Nepo fought tooth and nail for a draw even when his own chances were all but gone . Impressive resolve.

Congrats to Gukesh D, who showed sensational resolve under pressure!

Retweet this to let non chess people know that Candidates final is happening in an hour and that it is epic this time.

Updated predictions after Round 13!

Gukesh D up to 50% winning chances!

Scenarios:
Gukesh wins: He wins!
Gukesh draw: He wins if Fabi/Nepo is a draw. If their game is decisive, he goes to tiebreak with the winner fot hat game.
Gukesh loss: He's out.

#FIDECandidates

For the first time in 6 years we have a new sole leader at the Candidates.

Alireza is low on time already by move 30. Vidit Gujrathi is also very low on time from move 20, with almost 15m less than others. Overall, Vidit and Alireza leave themselves little time and and Hikaru (and nepo ofc) the best time managers. Of course this has to be put in the

Two more #fidecandidates2024 bonus pods!
- FM Dalton Perrine joined me to assess & look forward after attending round 12
- Mike Klein on the historical context, the players' mindsets, and the Alireza Shoe Controversy
I can't wait to see how this fascinating tournament ends!

Did have the feeling that there have been a lot of decisive games at the #FIDECandidates and it seems to be true.
Toronto 2024 - 45.8% (so far)
Madrid 2022 - 41.1
Yekaterinburg 2020 - 44.6
Berlin 2018 - 35.7
Moscow 2016 - 28.6
Khanty-Mansiysk 2014 - 39.3
London 2013 - 44.6.

Even the sole lead still isn't quite enough to make Nepo the odds-on favorite; too many players are too close behind him and facing Naka and Fabi in the last two rounds adds to the risk of being caught.

All four players with realistic hopes have winnable games today though...

Tunde Onakoya is doing this to support kids that can’t get good education and shelter. Giving them a Chance at life

We support you Tunde done stop going ❤️🇳🇬🫡 Tunde Onakoya

New Perpetual Pod! (non-Candidates edition).
Lou Hays, author and founder of Hays Publishing on:
- How he got to know Spassky, Fischer & Bronstein.
- How he got to 2100 from scratch as an adult
- Chess publishing then & now
Great stories in this one!