The 2024 Candidates Tournament is underway in Toronto, and round 2 of the Open section saw 4 decisive games. Probably the most noteworthy was Vidit beating Nakamura, although Caruana's win over Abasov may be the most consequential.
Going into the tournament, Caruana was probably the favourite, with Nakamura considered the player most likely to defy the odds. However, considering the rating spread of the field, I think the games between the leaders won't be as important as the games against the back markers (like Candidates events of old). So the win by Caruana was an important won, as was Nepo's win over Firouzja. If at the halfway mark someone is +3 (or more), then it may be all over for the rest of the field.
FIDE Candidates 2024 Toronto, Canada (2.4), 04.04.2024
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e5 4. O-O Bd6 5. d3 Nf6 6. Nc3 O-O 7. h3 a6 8. Bxc6 dxc6 9. Nh4 Re8 10. Qf3 g6 11. Bg5 Be7 12. Qe3 Nh5 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Nf3 b6 15. a3 b5 16. Ne2 f6 17. Nd2 Be6 18. f4 Nxf4 19. Nxf4 exf4 20. Rxf4 Rad8 21. Qf2 Rf8 22. Rf1 Kg7 23. b4 cxb4 24. axb4 Ra8 25. Kh1 a5 26. bxa5 c5 27. Ra1 Ra6 28. e5 f5 29. c4 bxc4 30. dxc4 Rfa8 31. Nb3 g5 32. Qg3 h6 33. Rf2 Bxc4 34. Rxf5 Bxb3 35. Qxb3 Rxa5 36. Raf1 Kh8 37. Rf7 1-0
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