Ian Nepomniachtchi, a Candidates specialist who has won the last two editions of the tournament, took sole command of the 2024 Tournament in Toronto (Canada) on Sunday. After a first-round victory over Alireza Firouzja, the Russian, who competes under a neutral flag, scored a second point against India’s Santosh Gujrathi Vidit to take sole possession of the lead (3 out of 4). The experienced Nepo perfectly exploited an error by his opponent to win and make his mark.
No winners in the day’s other three games. For Alireza Firouzja, it was a missed opportunity to move up in the rankings as he faced Azerbaijan’s Nijat Abasov, the least experienced of the eight candidates. But the Frenchman, who tried everything to make a difference, came up against his opponent’s defense.
