@congruent saidJMHO - Nakamura has spent a lot of time over the last 10 years focused too much on blitz. He's a very strong GM of course but seems less comfortable with slower time controls.
Nepo now in the lead, Vidit could be in the lead had he won the last two.
Nepo vs Vidit, after Vidit beat Nakamura he then lost the next two games
[pgn][Event "World Championship Candidates"]
[Site "Toronto CAN"]
[Date "2024.04.07"]
[EventDate "2024.04.04"]
[Round "4.2"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "Ian Nepomniachtchi"]
[Black "Santosh Gujrathi Vidit"]
[ECO "C67"] ...[text shortened]... 8 38. Rxd5 Bxh5 39. Bc1 Bg6+ 40. Ke5 b4
41. Kf6 Be8 42. Rd8 bxa3 43. bxa3 Bd7 44. Kf7 Kd5 1-0[/pgn]
- Joined
- 09 Sep 10
- Moves
- 2501
I never understood why the best players waste so much time with bullet games online (one minute or less) it's nothing but wins on time and ridiculous mistakes.
Now Nakamura is paying the price. It's a long tournament though and I'm sure he'll bounce back and be a contender for a good finish.
At the halfway mark of the 2024 FIDE Candidates Tournament, GM Ian Nepomniachtchi is back in the sole lead. In round seven, he survived over 20 moves of preparation from GM Hikaru Nakamura to make the draw.
GM Gukesh Dommaraju was moves away from winning and entering the sole lead himself, but in time trouble he suffered a heartbreaking loss against GM Alireza Firouzja. GM Fabiano Caruana vs. GM Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu and GM Nijat Abasov vs. GM Vidit Gujrathi ended in draws.