Candidates 2024: Gukesh beats Abasov in round 12 to join Nepomniachtchi, Nakamura on top; Vaishali defeats Muzychuk

FIDE Candidates 2024, Round 12: D. Gukesh beat Nijat Abasov with black pieces, while R Vaishali bettered Anna Muzychuk.

D. Gukesh in action against Nijat Abasov during the 12th round of Candidates 2024. | Photo Credit: FIDE/Michał Walusza

India’s D. Gukesh beat Azerbaijan’s Nijat Abasov in the round 12 clash of the FIDE Candidates 2024 tournament at the Great Hall in Toronto, Canada on Friday.

Gukesh joined Russia’s Ian Nepomniachtchi at the top of the leaderboard with 7.5 points.

HIGHLIGHTS | FIDE CANDIDATES 2024 ROUND 12

Playing with white pieces, Gukesh notched up his third win in the eight-player double round-robin tournament.

In the women’s category, India’s R Vaishali continued her golden form, getting her third win on the trot by beating Ukraine’s Anna Muzychuk with the black pieces.

Vaishali’s compatriot Koneru Humpy though had to settle for draw, against Aleksandra Gorychakina despite finding herself in a winning position.

In the men’s category, R Praggnanandhaa drew with Nepomniachtchi, while Vidit Gujrathi stumbled to a defeat to Fabiano Caruana.