Gukesh takes the lead in Candidates Chess with a strong performance | Sports News

In a thrilling turn of events at the Candidates Chess tournament in Toronto, Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh has surged into the lead after a stunning victory over Firouzja Alireza of France. The 17-year-old prodigy from Chennai is now on the brink of becoming the youngest ever World Championship contender, with a potential showdown against China’s Ding Liren on the horizon.

Gukesh’s impressive performance in the tournament has been nothing short of remarkable, as he now sits at the top of the leaderboard with 8.5 points out of a possible 13. His latest win has put him half a point ahead of his closest competitors, including Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi and American Hikaru Nakamura.

In the women’s event, Vaishali Rameshbabu has been on a winning streak, securing four consecutive victories in her last four games. Meanwhile, Humpy Koneru and Anna Muzychuk played to a draw, while Vaishali emerged victorious against Lei Tingjie.

With just one round remaining, the tension is palpable as Gukesh prepares to face off against Nakamura in a crucial match. While the competition remains fierce, many experts believe that Gukesh has the upper hand and a draw in the final round might be enough for him to clinch the title.

In the women’s section, Zhongyi Tan currently holds a one-point lead over her nearest rival, Tingjie Lei. With the competition heating up, the final round promises to be a nail-biting finish as the players battle it out for the coveted championship crown.