Alireza Firouzja’s attempt to reach the Candidates via rating at a series of matches in Chartres failed at the last hurdle. After scoring five wins in a row, the strongest junior in the world was held to a draw by Sergey Fedorchuk, thus losing 2.8 Elo points and again falling behind Wesley So in the live ratings list. The draw was followed by Firouzja disappearing from the lineups of the World Rapid and Blitz Championships. He still has a week before the year ends will he try desperately to gain some rating again?
The FIDE Candidates Tournament is the ultimate qualifier for the FIDE World Championship. Eight prominent grandmasters will compete for a top spot in this double round-robin event in Madrid, Spain, from 16 June to 5 July 2022. The first place is all that matters, as the winner qualifies to face the reigning World Champion Magnus Carlsen in the match for the chess crown. | Picture: FIDE