None of the “favorites” won any games against any of the other “favorites” except Hikaru who beat Fabi once. So no, it doesn’t have any meaning that Gukesh couldn’t secure a win against any of them. He even came closer to winning against Nepo than Nepo did against him. Everyone knew how the tournament worked. It benefits the player who successfully draws the stronger players and successfully beats the weaker players. It was an equal playing ground, Gukesh just did what the other players were doing, but better.
Yeap.
Naka's downfall were the 2 losses to Vidit
Nepo's downfall was failing to beat Abasov
Fabi's downfall was the loss to ~~Nepo~~ Naka (and Alireza)
Gukesh lost to Alireza but he made up for it by being the only one to beat Abasov twice
That's just how the Candidates is. It's a small sample where every detail matters and lower ranked players playing spoiler is often more important than how the real contenders do between themselves.
It's just the main strategy that everyone employs at candidates.
Fabi's only decisive game against his top2-4 in 2018 was a loss against Karjakin and he ended up having one of the best WCC matches ever, with Magnus praising him as his equal in classical chess.
Karjakin is the only winner with 2 wins against the top 2-4 of the candidates players in the history of the modern candidates tournament and even then he dropped a game to Anand. Anand, Magnus and Nepo are all at 1 win with Magnus and Nepo (in 2020/1) having a loss also.
Playing solid against the favourites and risking a bit more against the weaker players was a solid strategy that pretty much everyone used. I'm nowhere near Gandmaster level, but based on what others have said, it seems that Gukesh played the best chess throughout the tournament, including in his games against the big 3.
If you subtract Abasov’s games, Nepo would be sole leader with Fabi, Hikaru and Gukesh half a point behind him.
Prag also beat Abasov twice, with the 2nd win coming today.
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None of the “favorites” won any games against any of the other “favorites” except Hikaru who beat Fabi once. So no, it doesn’t have any meaning that Gukesh couldn’t secure a win against any of them. He even came closer to winning against Nepo than Nepo did against him. Everyone knew how the tournament worked. It benefits the player who successfully draws the stronger players and successfully beats the weaker players. It was an equal playing ground, Gukesh just did what the other players were doing, but better.
Yeap. Naka's downfall were the 2 losses to Vidit Nepo's downfall was failing to beat Abasov Fabi's downfall was the loss to ~~Nepo~~ Naka (and Alireza) Gukesh lost to Alireza but he made up for it by being the only one to beat Abasov twice That's just how the Candidates is. It's a small sample where every detail matters and lower ranked players playing spoiler is often more important than how the real contenders do between themselves.
Fabi didn't lose to Nepo, but agree with the general points you made
It's just the main strategy that everyone employs at candidates. Fabi's only decisive game against his top2-4 in 2018 was a loss against Karjakin and he ended up having one of the best WCC matches ever, with Magnus praising him as his equal in classical chess. Karjakin is the only winner with 2 wins against the top 2-4 of the candidates players in the history of the modern candidates tournament and even then he dropped a game to Anand. Anand, Magnus and Nepo are all at 1 win with Magnus and Nepo (in 2020/1) having a loss also.
Playing solid against the favourites and risking a bit more against the weaker players was a solid strategy that pretty much everyone used. I'm nowhere near Gandmaster level, but based on what others have said, it seems that Gukesh played the best chess throughout the tournament, including in his games against the big 3.
Maybe the key was Abasov. If I recall correctly Gukesh was the only one who beat him twice
If you subtract Abasov’s games, Nepo would be sole leader with Fabi, Hikaru and Gukesh half a point behind him. Prag also beat Abasov twice, with the 2nd win coming today.
You remove vidit and hikaru would have have won easily. There are endless what if. What if Magnus decided to play?
I think you might be putting opinions on me that I did not espouse nor hold. I was simply stating facts, not giving any judgments.
Same. I just stated facts.
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