Ian Nepomniachtchi Still The Player To Beat As Chess Candidates Tournament Reaches Final Stages

The 2nd and 3rd top-ranked chess grandmasters, Fabiano Caruana (+450) and Hikaru Nakamura (+450), are making a strong push as the Candidates tournament in Toronto approaches its last four rounds. With a prize pool of €500k, this crucial event will determine which of the eight competitors earns the opportunity to challenge China's Ding Liren for the world title later in the year.

As the competition reaches its final stages it's time to take a look at the betting odds.

What? Chess Candidates Tournament
Where? The Great Hall in Toronto, Canada
When? Tournament concludes Monday, April 22

Below are the latest odds from the best sports betting sites.

Chess Candidates 2024
Ian Nepomniachtchi	+150	+150	+150
Dommaraju Gukesh	+400	+400	+400
Fabiano Caruana	+450	+450	+450
Hikaru Nakamura	+450	+450	+450
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa	+500	+500	+500
Santosh Gujrathi Vidit	+2000	+2000	+2000

Throughout the tournament, Caruana, aged 31, and Nakamura, aged 36, initially trailed the frontrunners, Russia’s Ian Nepomniachtchi (+150), 33, and India’s 17-year-old Gukesh Dommaraju (+400). Caruana maintained an undefeated record but seemed to lack his usual precision, while Nakamura endured two significant defeats against India’s Vidit Gujrathi.

Chess Candidates Tournament Round 10

In Monday's tenth round, which marked the midpoint of the 14-round tournament, the US duo of Fabiano Caruana (+450) and Hikaru Nakamura (+450) secured crucial victories in arduous, fluctuating battles. Nakamura triumphed over Azerbaijan's Nijat Abasov, while Caruana demonstrated his strategic prowess in a commanding win against France's Alireza Firouzja. With the competition intensifying, the race remains tight and is expected to extend to the final round on Sunday, potentially even leading to rapid tie-breaks on Monday.

After 10 rounds, Nepomniachtchi of Russia and Gukesh of India held the lead with 6/10. They were closely trailed by Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu of India, Nakamura, and Caruana of the US, all on 5.5 points. Vidit of India follows closely behind with 5 points. The frontrunners engaged in a cautious draw in the tenth round.

Tuesday is a rest day, followed by round 11 on Wednesday, featuring the highly anticipated matchup between Gukesh and Caruana.

Ian Nepomniachtchi (+150)

Nepomniachtchi emerged victorious in both the 2020-21 and 2022 Candidates tournaments. He boasts an extraordinary record of leading, either outright or sharing the lead, in all 38 rounds across the three events. However, in the current tournament, his usual dominance has been challenged, with a narrow margin of superiority. Despite this, he faced difficulty securing wins in both encounters against the underdog from Azerbaijan, Nijat Abasov. He still remains the player to beat and the outright favorite at odds of +150.

Ian Nepomniachtchi To Win 2024 Chess Candidates Tournament

+150

Bovada

Bovada is the go to betting site for chess betting. Make sure to read our Bovada sportsbook review to determine if this is the best betting site for your chess candidates tournament wagers.

Gukesh Dommaraju (+400)

Gukesh, at the age of 17, has emerged as the breakout star of the Candidates tournament. He's positioned himself as a strong contender to potentially break Garry Kasparov's record as the youngest world champion in chess history, achieved at the age of 22. Despite initial perceptions of being an underdog due to his youth and inconsistent performances in the months preceding the event, Gukesh has defied expectations. His noteworthy journey includes a third-place finish behind England's Michael Adams at the London Classic in December. In Toronto, his sole loss came in an unfortunate encounter against Firouzja, captured on video, which visibly affected him. It would be a fantastic story if he wins the tournament. The bookies odds of +400 suggests he has a decent chance.

Gukesh Dommaraju To Win 2024 Chess Candidates Tournament

+400

Bovada

Chess Candidates Tournament

The 2024 Candidates Tournament is a prestigious eight-player chess event convened to determine the challenger for the coveted World Chess Championship 2024 title. Hosted at The Great Hall in Toronto, Canada, the tournament runs from April 3 to April 22, 2024, coinciding with the Women's Candidates Tournament.

Following the tradition established since 2013, the format features a double round robin tournament, ensuring each participant competes against every other player twice. The ultimate victor secures the opportunity to vie for the World Chess Championship 2024 title against the reigning World Chess Champion, Ding Liren.

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