Get ready to explore the best openings by the top players.
In this article, we give a day-by-day breakdown of the openings played in the 2022 FIDE Candidates Tournament, with a short introduction to the openings.
If you haven’t checked out who is playing yet, take a look at our guide to the 2022 Candidates Tournament.
| Openings played | Round and game they were played |
| Sicilian Defense: French Variation | Round 1: Game 1 |
| English Opening: King’s English | Round 1: Game 2; Round 7: Game 4 |
| The Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense | Round 1: Game 3; Round 2: Game 2; Round 4: Game 1, Game 3; Round 9: Game 2, Game 3; Round 12: Game 1, Game 4; Round 14: Game 1, Game 2; |
| The Queen’s Gambit Declined: Three Knights Variation | Round 1: Game 4; Round 4: Game 4 |
| Sicilian Defense: Chekhover Variation | Round 2: Game 1 |
| The Italian Game: Giuoco Piannisimo | Round 2: Game 3, Game 4; Round 6: Game 3; Round 8: Game 4; Round 10: Game 2 |
| The Catalan Opening | Round 3: Game 1; Round 5: Game 4; Round 6: Game 4; Round 10: Game 3; Round 13: Game 4 |
| The Nimzo-Indian Defense | Round 3: Game 4; Round 12: Game 2 |
| The Grünfeld Defense | Round 3: Game 2 |
| Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation | Round 3: Game 1; Round 4: Game 2; Round 10: Game 4; Round 13: Game 2 |
| Petrov Defense | Round 5: Game 1, Game 3; Round 9: Game 3; Round 11: Game 2; Round 14: Game 3 |
| Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation | Round 5: Game 2; Round 6: Game 1 |
| Zukertort Opening | Round 6: Game 2 |
| Four Knights: Scotch Variation | Round 8: Game 1; Round 13: Game 3 |
| The Ruy Lopez: Open Variation | Round 8: Game 2 |
| The Four Knights Game | Round 8: Game 3 |
| English Opening: Agincourt Defense. Catalan Defense Accepted | Round 9 Game 4 |
| The Ruy Lopez: Anderssen Variation | Round 10: Game 1 |
| Sicilian Defense: Sveshnikov Variation | Round 11: Game 1 |
| English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense | Round 11: Game 3 |
| The Ruy Lopez: Anti-Marshall | Round 11: Game 4 |
| The Semi-Slav | Round 12: Game 3 |
| Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Attack | Round 13: Game 1 |
| Semi-Tarrasch | Round 14: Game 4 |
Round 1-Friday, Jun 17, 2022
Game 1: Jan-Krzysztof Duda vs Richard Rapport
The Sicilian Defense: French Variation
Duda is one of the most booked-up players, while Rapport is one of the flashiest tacticians playing today, so the first match was promising. In this match the players played a Sicilian Defense, French Variation, beginning with the moves 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6.
Black’s second move is considered more positional than other typical first moves of the Sicilian Defense. From here the typical plan for White is to open the position with 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4. Unlike other Sicilian Defenses, Black has an open diagonal for their dark-squared bishop.
The first game of this tournament ended in a draw. Take a look below.
Game 2: Ding Liren vs. Ian Nepomniachtchi
English Opening: King’s English Variation
1.c4 e5
This was one of the most exciting games of the first round, with the number two player in the world losing the game as White to last year’s challenger to the World Championship title.
The King’s English is also known as the Reversed Sicilian Defense. Considered the most radical reply to the English, players either love it or hate it. It is said to show both the beauty and the ugliness of 1.c4. Many English players hope to face it, while others will completely avoid the English so they never have to see it.
Take a look at this fantastic 32-move win by Nepo as Black.
Game 3: Fabiano Caruana vs. Hikaru Nakamura
The Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6
This is one of the most popular replies to the Ruy Lopez at the top level. It was not played much until the Classical World Chess Championship in 2000 when Vladimir Kramnik used it as a drawing weapon against Garry Kasparov.
Given its reputation as a drawing weapon, it is sometimes called the “Berlin Wall”. It is a natural move as it attacks White’s e-pawn, and Black is much closer to castling than if they play the most popular move, 3…a6. It is also considered less flexible than 3…a6.
This is where we see the Super-GMs shine. This is one of the most studied openings in chess, with these GMs pouring uncountable amounts of study into the latest variations.
Despite this having a reputation as a drawish opening, Nakamura could not secure a draw, and Caruana was able to edge out a win against him in the first round.
Game 4: Teimour Radjabov vs. Alireza Firouzja
The Queen’s Gambit Declined: Three Knights Variation
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3
This opening was actually reached by transposition, as 3.Nf3 is a way to deny a Nimzo-Indian, which perhaps Firouzja was trying to play.
This signals a slow and positional game for both sides. No one here is about to blow open the board with mindbending tactics. The parent opening, the Queen’s Gambit Declined, is one of the most sturdy and reliable defenses against the Queen’s Gambit. It is not a thing of just Super-GMs either, this is one of the most recommended openings for beginners.
Firouzja may have wanted to go into a more tactical Nimzo-Indian Defense, but after being denied it after 3.Nf3, he changed gears into this super solid and patient setup.
The game ended in a draw:
Round 2: Saturday, June 18th, 2022
Game 1: Richard Rapport vs. Alireza Firouzja
Sicilian Defense: Chekhover Variation
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4
The Chekhover Variation was first played in Leningrad in 1938 by Chekhover–Lisitsin. It is uncommon, especially at the top level. It violates the opening principle of bringing one’s queen out too early.
The move 4.Qxd4 differentiates from the standard 4.Nxd4. This was probably an attempt by Rapport to take Firouzja out of his preparation. Despite this novel attempt, the game ended in a draw after 60 moves.
In this opening, White has a win rate of 36.4%, Black’s win rate is 30.6%, while draws make up the remaining 33%.
Chessable has a great free course on Anti-Sicilians, which includes the Chekhover Variation.
Take a look at the game:
Game 2: Hikaru Nakamura vs. Teimour Radjabov
The Ruy Lopez: The Berlin Defense
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6
This is the second time already we are seeing this Super-GM draw weapon, (and the second time with Nakamura playing too). Nakamura needed to play for a win given his loss in the first round against Caruana. Radjabov, as Black, was probably content with trying to secure a half-point with the draw.
Even still, Nakamura was able to break through Radjabov’s Berlin Wall and put himself back into contention by securing a win and one point after 75 moves.
Check out our course The Smart Ruy Lopez Part 2: Break Down the Berlin Defense to fight for a win against this tough defense.
Game 3: Ian Nepomniachtchi vs Fabiano Caruana
The Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5
The two players coming off victories in the first round played this third game of the second round and opted for the Giuoco Pianissimo variation of the Italian Game.
Translating to “ultra-quiet game”, this variation is extremely solid, and both sides focus on all the main chess opening principles. Development to ideal squares of the minor pieces, quick castling, and control of the center.
This opening may look tame, but lay beneath it is a potent attacking weapon, full of tactics ready to be unleashed. It is probably one of the best openings beginners can learn to understand how chess should be played. White is waiting to push d4 until the time is absolutely right.
Neither side in this game however was able to squeeze out a win:
Game 4: Jan-Krzysztof Duda vs Ding Liren
The Italian Game: Giuoco Pianisimo
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5
In the last game of round two, we get another Giuco Piannisimo and the same result from Duda and Liren.
Chessable has a fantastic course on Thematic Tactics: The Slow Italian Game, to get you learning common tactics in the Italian Game.
Round 3: Sunday, June 19th, 2022
Game 1: Teimour Radjabov vs. Ian Nepomniachtchi
The Catalan Opening
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3
Again Radjabov plays 1.d4, and again, Nepomniachtchi may have wanted to go into a Nimzo-Indian Defense. This is very reminiscent of how his game against Firouzja went in the first round.
Instead of transposing into a Queen’s Gambit Declined, after playing the Anti-Nimzo-Indian move 3.Nf3, the game transposed into the Catalan.
The Catalan has been quite popular in recent times. Magnus Carlsen used it as one of his main openings in the World Championship against Nepomniachtchi last year.
The Catalan does not have a strict move order and may be reached via many different moves. White prepares to fianchetto the light-squared bishop to have long-term pressure on the h1-a8 diagonal. This pressure will most be felt if Black plays c5 or takes on c4.
Game 2: Ding Liren vs. Richard Rapport
The Grünfeld Defense
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5
The Grünfeld is one of the most theory-heavy openings in all of chess, so much so that players below the 2000 level are recommended to avoid it.
Black counters in the center with 3…d5, which allows White a significant amount of latitude in choosing their setup.
In the 1920s, the Grünfeld revolutionized how people thought about chess. It showed that a pawn center, instead of just being a positive, could be an object of attack. The Grünfeld helped usher in a new way of thinking about chess; the hypermodern school of thought.
The Grünfeld was first played in 1855 by Moheschunder Bannerjee, an Indian chess player who had remarkably transitioned from the Indian rules of chess to the modern rules.
Let’s take a look at the featured game:
Game 3: Fabiano Caruana vs Jan-Krzysztof Duda
The Sicilian Najdorf
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc6 a6
Called the Cadillac or Rolls Royce of openings due to its sturdiness, the quiet move 5…a6 is a deceptively looking powerful move and one that entails much theory.
This opening is, along with the Grünfeld and the Ruy Lopez, one of the most theoretically studied openings in all of chess and is a reminder of why chess is such a beautiful game. New ideas are constantly found many lines deep. It is an opening that keeps on giving, like the Ruy Lopez.
In contrast to the Ruy Lopez, this world-class opening can be very tough for beginners to grasp. A certain level of theoretical knowledge is necessary. 5…a6 is simply completely counterintuitive.
However, for those willing to put in the work, the Najdorf can be one of the most rewarding and rich openings to add to one’s repertoire.
Let’s see how the featured game went down:
Game 4: Alireza Firouzja vs Hikaru Nakamura
The Nimzo-Indian Defense
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4
This is one of the best defenses for Black against 1.d4, and it can be quite torturous for White. In fact, it causes White such headaches that the most common move after 2…e6 is 3.Nf3 to completely avoid the headaches the Nimzo causes for White.
Of course this is not at all unplayable for White, but Black has a highly flexible system with their dark-squared bishop developed to its most active square, pinning the knight, preventing White from playing d4, and threatening to saddle White with doubled c-pawns. That’s quite a lot for one developing move on move 3.
Furthermore, Black has not committed to a pawn structure, so this gives Black much flexibility in the setup they choose to employ.
First played by chess player and theoretician Aron Nimzowitsch, this was one of the first hypermodern openings to get noticed, and it remains a favorite today.
Attesting to its greatness is the fact that it has been played by every World Champion since José Raúl Capablanca.
Let’s look at it in the featured game:
Round 4: Tuesday, June 21, 2022
Game 1: Richard Rapport vs. Hikaru Nakamura
The Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6
This is the third time we encounter the sturdy Berlin Defense, and it is the third time it has featured in a game with Nakamura (twice used by him as Black, once by Radjabov).
Nakamura was hoping to score better with this than he did with his first attempt when he lost to Caruana. In this game, Nakamura upheld the reputation of it being a drawing weapon and secured half a point against Rapport.
Take a look at the game:
Game 2: Ian Nepomniachtchi vs. Alireza Firouzja
The Sicilian Najdorf
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc6 a6
The second time we see a Najdorf in the tournament, though the first time by either of these players.
What is clear is that Ian Nepomniachtchi is having an extremely solid tournament and is now the leader of the pack He impressively was able to break through Firouzja’s Najdorf. Firouzja was the favorite to win by many, but perhaps last year’s challenger for the World Championship may be back again.
Will Carlsen still play if Nepomniachtchi wins the tournament?
Take a look at the game:
Game 3: Jan-Krzysztof Duda vs. Teimour Radjabov
The Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6
Is the Berlin Defense the opening of the 2022 Candidates Tournament? It sure seems like it thus far.
Besides Nakamura’s loss in the first round, this opening is cementing its reputation at the top level as a drawing weapon.
Take a look at the game:
Game 4: Ding Liren vs. Fabiano Caruana
The Queen’s Gambit Declined: Three Knights Variation
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3
Once again, we see a possible try at a Nimzo-Indian that turns into an Anti-Nimzo-Indian with 3.Nf3 and then transposes into a Queen’s Gambit Declined: Three Knights Variation.
Like in the first game between Radjabov and Firouzja, the game ended in a draw. That’s not to say the Queen’s Gambit Declined is a drawing weapon however, just that it is so hard to break through for a win at this level, as exemplified by the sole win today and the four draws in the third round.
Take a look at the game:
Round 5: June 22, 2022
Game 1: Alireza Firouzja vs. Jan-Krzysztof Duda
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6
The Petrov Defense
For the first time since Round 3, we get a new opening in the tournament, the Petrov Defense.
Also known as the Russian Opening, the Petrov Defense employs a symmetrical setup, and at the top level, the games are often considered somewhat boring and drawish, and indeed, we saw a draw with it today.
However, for beginners, this opening can teach a lot about how to develop, and there are many traps to be aware of, and there are attacking opportunities for both sides.
Many top players have employed the Petrov over the years, including World Champions Vasily Smyslov, Tigran Petrosian, Anatoly Karpov, and Vladimir Kramnik.
Take a look at the game:
Game 2: Fabiano Caruana vs. Richard Rapport
The Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6
This is a subvariation of the French Variation of the Sicilian Defense, which we saw in Round 1.
The Taimanov is named after Mark Taimanov, an influential Russian Grandmaster. The opening became popular in the 1960s and has remained so ever since.
The Taimanov is a flexible Sicilian setup, Black develops their knight to its most natural square and keeps options open for the development of their other pieces.
The Taimanov is a great Sicilian for players who are more positionally minded and who would rather avoid the sharp tactical lines of the Najdorf, for instance.
However, the Taimanov is still a Sicilian, and despite being more positionally oriented, it is far from being a boring opening.
Take a look at today’s game featuring the Taimanov:
Game 3: Hikaru Nakamura vs. Ian Nepomniachtchi
The Petrov Defense
A second Petrov in Round 5. As we mentioned earlier, this opening has a drawish reputation. Since Nepomniachtchi was probably hoping only to secure a draw with the Black pieces, this may have been the reason why he played this opening.
The game indeed ended in a draw, Nepo secured half a point and remains at the top of the leaderboard.
Let’s take a look at the game:
Game 4: Teimour Radjabov vs. Ding Liren
The Catalan Opening
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3
This is the second time we see a Catalan setup in this tournament. It may be possible that Ding Liren was trying to play a Nimzo-Indian Defense, but Radjabov steered this into Catalan territory. For the sixth match in a row, we get a draw, though Liren had a sizeable advantage and blew it under time pressure:
Round 6- June 23, 2022
Game 1: Teimour Radjabov vs. Richard Rapport
The Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6
The second time we see a Taimanov Sicilian in the event. This is an interesting choice by Richard Rapport given that he is known for this tactical wizardry, and the Taimanov is considered a more positional Sicilian.
The game ended in a draw:
Game 2: Ian Nepomniachtchi vs. Jan-Krzysztof Duda
Zukertort Opening
1.Nf3
Though often mistakenly referred to as the Reti Opening, 1.Nf3 is actually the Zukertort Opening. The Reti arises after the move order 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4, and while these moves were played later in the game, the game took on a flavor of its own.
The Zukertort Opening is a popular flank opening often transposing into the Reti. It is a hypermodern opening meaning that White controls the center with a piece rather than a pawn.
This game had a very interesting hypermodern approach, blending a Reti with a Catalan-type setup. White chose not to play a central pawn move until move 6. It seems to have worked for Nepo, who at this point is the clear leader with an impressive 4.5/6 points.
Take a look at the game:
Game 3: Hikaru Nakamura vs. Ding Liren
The Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5
This is the third time we have seen this quiet-looking opening, though remember, the Giuoco Piano has lots of pent-up attacking potential.
However, all three games it has been played in have resulted in a draw. Ding Liren is still trying to find his stride after a slow start.
Take a look at the game:
Game 4: Alireza Firouzja vs. Fabiano Caruana
The Catalan Opening
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5
This is the third time we have seen the Catalan Opening, but this time White went directly for a Catalan setup with 3.g3 without interspersing the Anti-Nimzo move 3.Nf3.
Firouzja, the favorite by many at the start of the tournament, and the only player Carlsen has stated he will face in another World Championship match, is not having a good tournament.
If Carlsen sticks to this statement, then we may very well see the last two challengers to the crown face off against each other, as Caruana is just a half point behind Nepo in the standings at this point with 4/6 points.
Firouzja lost the following match to Caruana with the White pieces:
Round 7: Saturday, June 25, 2022
Game 1: Richard Rapport vs. Ian Nepomniachtchi
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6
The Petrov Defense
Nepo is simply having the tournament of his life. His strategy is probably to try to play for draws as Black and win as White. As such, in Round 7, he has chosen the Petrov Defense, an opening with a drawish reputation.
Though the Petrov has a drawish reputation, Nepo was able to edge out a win against Rapport as Black. Very impressive, after 7 rounds, Nepo continued to lead the tournament undefeated with 4.5/7 points.
Take a look at the game:
Game 2: Fabiano Caruana vs. Teimour Radjabov
The Sicilian Defense: O’Kelly Variation
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 a6
This is a sideline of the Sicilian Defense, i.e. not a mainline variation. The move a6 can be a very useful move in many Sicilian setups, such as the Najdorf, but playing it here so early is not always so advantageous if White goes for an Alapin setup with 3.c3 or a Maroczy Bind setup with 3.c4 (which Caruana did).
The line is not so challenging for White, and in this game that proved to be true. Besides Nepo, Caruana is the other player having a fantastic tournament, and he was able to edge out another win in Round 7 against Radjabov.
This free Short & Sweet Open Sicilian Course by GM Ivan Saric covers the O’Kelly Variation.
Black’s position was wide open in the following game. Pretty exciting stuff, take a look:
Game 3: Jan-Krzysztof Duda vs. Hikaru Nakamura
The Nimzo-Indian Defense
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4
Duda allowed Nakamura to play the Nimzo-Indian, and despite Nakamura’s best efforts, the game ended in a draw. This is only the second time we have seen this solid and flexible opening in the tournament.
Take a look:
Game 4: Ding Liren vs. Alireza Firouzja
English Opening: King’s English Variation
1.c4 e5
This is the second time we are seeing the opening and the first since the first round. Ding was surely hoping to have better luck with it than he did in the first round. Though he faced the strong Nepo. In this game, he was up against the Firouzja, the player struggling most so far.
Ding played 2.g3 to fianchetto his light-squared bishop to control the light squares from afar. This is typical in English setups.
The game ended in a draw:
Round 8: Sunday, June 26, 2022
Game 1: Ian Nepomniachtchi vs. Ding Liren
The Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4
We are seeing a new opening in the tournament with this game, the Four Knights Game, Scotch Variation.
This is a very solid opening, which has value for the most novice players up to Super-GMs.
This opening develops in a very classical manner, with both sides getting their knights out and controlling the center. Generally, positions tend to be pretty positional and quiet, though there are some sharper lines.
In the Scotch Variation, White makes a direct strike at the center, and from here things can get quite sharp. This variation was played in the fifth match between Deep Blue and Garry Kasparov.
In this game, neither player could make it decisive, and we saw a draw. Nepo remains at the top of the leaderboard after the half point obtained in this game.
Game 2: Hikaru Nakamura vs. Fabiano Caruana
The Ruy Lopez: Open
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bb4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Nxe4
It is at this position the Open Variation of the Ruy Lopez begins when Black takes the pawn on e4.
The Open Ruy Lopez is a subvariation of the Morphy Defense, a very popular line where Black puts the question to White’s bishop with the move 3…a6.
The Open Ruy Lopez is positionally very sound. Black deprives White of the key central e-pawn. However, this pawn is not free as White can easily win back material. The moves 6.Bxc6 and 6.Re1 may seem natural, but White is let with less tension and Black has easy development.
The mainline is 6.d4, which Nakamura played. Caruana deviated from this tournament’s typical response to the Ruy Lopez, the Berlin Defense. Fabiano had been having an amazing tournament up until this point, coming into round eight with 5/8 points. However, in an amazing feat, Nakamura was able to snatch the win. This was Caruana’s first loss in the tournament.
Game 3: Richard Rapport vs. Jan-Krzysztof Duda
The Four Knights Game
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6
This was an interesting opening, which started as a Petrov, then turned into a Four Knights Game, and after which, on move four, Rapport played g3, so this took on a King’s Indian Attack-like setup.
Either way, the first few moves were an attempt and solid and positional play by both players. However, Round 8 turned about to be one of the most exciting rounds in the tournament, with Rapport taking the win as White over Duda in only 29 moves.
Game 4: Alireza Firouzja vs. Teimour Radjabov
The Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 Nf6
Firouzja is having a disappointing tournament still, and in Round 8 was still looking for his first win. He chose for this game the Giuoco Piannisimo, but Radjabov was not letting him off so easily and managed to keep him to a draw after 93 moves.
Round 9: Monday, June 27, 2022
Game 1: Fabiano Caruana vs. Ian Nepomniachtchi
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6
The Petrov Defense
Some have commented that even the first move by Caruana was interesting, as he knows that Nepo is a Petrov specialist. This was a test by Caruana of Nepo’s preparation.
The game was a promising duel of the top two contenders thus far, but after all was said and done, it ended in a draw:
Game 2: Alireza Firouzja vs. Richard Rapport
The Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6
It has been a few rounds since we have seen the Berlin, and until this point Alireza was still waiting for his first win. He finally was able to break through and get a win in this game as White against Rapport’s Berlin Defense. However, he will need to continue to put up some wins if he hopes to win this tournament.
Game 3: Teimour Radjabov vs. Hikaru Nakamura
The Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6
The second game in a row we see a Berlin Defense. This is Nakamura’s chosen response to 1.e4. However, it did not work so well for him, as Radjabov was able to secure the win.
This was an exciting round full of wins. All games except the first ended with a win.
Game 4: Ding Liren vs. Jan-Krzysztof Duda
The English Defense: Agincourt Defense. Catalan Defense Accepted
1.c4 Nf6 2.g3 e6 3.Bg2 d5 4.Nf3 dxc4
Another English Defense in the tournament, but instead of the King’s English we are used to Duda played 1…Nf6.
In response, Liren played 2.g3 creating a Catalan setup. This opening was a bit of a hybrid of a Catalan and English. These are both very sturdy openings.
Black took with 4…dxc4, White gave a check with 5.Qa4+, which immediately wins the pawn back. In setups like this, Black likes to expand on the queenside with a6 and b5 and play this way. Indeed, this is how this game went, though Liren was able to secure a victory against Duda.
Round 10: Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Game 1: Richard Rapport vs. Ding Liren
The Ruy Lopez: Anderssen Variation
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.d3
This is the first time we have seen this specific variation of the tactical Ruy Lopez. It is a subvariation of the Morphy Defense in which Black plays 3…a6 to put White’s bishop on b5 to question. This is one of the most common ways to respond to the Ruy Lopez.
Liren, who had a slow start to the tournament, seems to have found his stride. He achieved his second victory in a row with this game and did so as Black.
Game 2: Jan-Krzysztof Duda vs. Fabiano Caruana
The Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3
Another “quiet game”, or so the opening would tell us. This, along with the Berlin Defense has turned out to be the most popular opening of the tournament thus far.
Duda has shown he is a fan of this opening, and it worked for him this time. After this game, Caruana has only scored 0.5/3 in his last three matches.
Game 3: Ian Nepomniachtchi vs. Teimour Radjabov
The Catalan Opening
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3
We have seen this opening before with the same players but colors reversed. This time perhaps Radjabov was going for a Nimzo-Indian Defense, but Nepo played the Anti-Nimzo move 3.Nf3.
From there, Nepo found comfortable waters with his trusty and solid Catalan Opening. The game ended in a draw, and Nepo still leads the pack with an impressive 7/10 points.
Game 4: Hikaru Nakamura vs. Alireza Firouzja
The Sicilian Najdorf
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc6 a6
We have seen this tactical and highly theoretical opening a few times before in this tournament. Unfortunately, it did not give Firouzja any points on this occasion, and he is still having a lackluster performance. Firouzja is still without a win in the tournament, and it is fair to say he will probably not finish top, as Nakamura snuck away with a win in this round.
Round 11: Thursday, June 30, 2022
Game 1: Hikaru Nakamura vs. Richard Rapport
Sveshnikov Sicilian
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5
In this matchup, we see a Sicilian variation we have not seen yet in this tournament, the Sveshnikov. In the Sveshnikov, Black plays 5…e5 and makes a claim in the center, something that Black struggles to do in many other Sicilian lines.
The Sveshnikov was long seen as a relic of the early 20th century, and it did not receive significant attention until the 1970s due to a young Russian player, Evegny Sveshnikov, who made attempts to make this opening one to be reckoned with. Since the mid-1970s, the Sveshnikov has held an important place in the world of opening chess theory, and it is a very important variation in tournament play of top-level players today. Black’s position is formidable, and they have many chances to play for a win with this resilient opening.
Though it is a great weapon to play for a win, this game ended in a draw:
Game 2: Alireza Firouzja vs. Ian Nepomniachtchi
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6
The Petrov Defense
Firouzja has played as White against the Petrov before in this tournament. Still looking for his first win, he is against the stiffest competition in this tournament. The Petrov is Nepo’s bread and butter however, and Nepo seems unstoppable at this point.
Nepo was able to snatch another win against the struggling Firouzja.
Game 3: Teimour Radjabov vs. Jan-Krzysztof Duda
1.c4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.b3 d5 4.Bb2 Be7 5.g3
The English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense
The Anglo-Indian Defense is a response to the English opening in which Black plays 1…Nf6, perhaps in hopes of transposing to mainline 1.d4 openings. However, this did not happen in this game, and Radjabov took a very hypermodern approach, fianchettoing both bishops, with the kingside fianchetto reminding us of a Catalan-type approach.
Game 4: Fabiano Caruana vs. Ding Liren
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.a4
The Ruy Lopez: Anti-Marshall
Going a bit deeper into the Morpny Defense (which we have seen variations of), is the Anti-Marshall.
The Anti-Marshall is not one specific move order, rather it is various moves that disallow the Marshall Attack by Black. The Marshall Attack is considered one of the best defenses by Black against the Ruy Lopez, thus the existence of several Anti-Marshall lines.
8.a4 is now a very popular Anti-Marshall line for elite players. The idea of the Marshall is to insert d5, but White likes to prevent this as Black can get a very active position.
The tables have really turned for 2nd place. It seemed Caruana was a shoe-in for runner-up, but he has been performing dismally in the last few rounds. Ding Liren successfully thwarted the Anti-Marshall to defeat Caruana and is now in second place.
Round 12: Friday, July 1, 2022
Game 1: Richard Rapport vs. Fabiano Caruana
The Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6
This sturdy defense to the tough-to-crack Ruy Lopez has been the most popular opening of the tournament. Caruana a few rounds ago looked like a shoo-in for second place, but given his dismal performance over the last few rounds, that is no longer the case.
From the main Berlin setup, we have seen many moves. Rapport played 5.Bxc6 which we have not seen a lot of.
The game ended in a draw:
Game 2: Ding Liren vs. Teimour Radjabov
The Nimzo-Indian Defense
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4
In this event, we have seen a lot of Anti-Nimzo-Indian moves, i.e. 3.Nf3, but Liren allows Radjabov to play the Nimzo.
Up to this point, Liren had won his last three games to put him within striking distance of the leader Ian Nepomniachtchi, so as the White pieces, he was probably trying to play for a win.
Radjabov played 8…Na6 a strange-looking move that had only been played twice before. It looks like the knight is highly ineffective on this square, but Black tries to provoke White into capturing and leaving Black with a damaged pawn structure, but Black will have a nice open b-file for their rook.
Radjabov played a beautiful attacking game and put Liren’s hot streak on ice after a beautiful win:
Game 3: Jan-Krzysztof Duda vs. Alireza Firouzja
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c6
For the first time in a while, we get a new opening in the tournament by way of transposition. Firouzja, still searching for his first win, was probably going for a Nimzo-Indian, but Duda played the Anti-Nimzo move 3.Nf3. As such, the move order transposed into one of the most formidable ways to decline the Queen’s Gambit, the Semi-Slav.
The Semi-Slav is a hybrid of the Queen’s Gambit Declined and the Slav Defense. This opening, while being ultra-sound, offers a lot of attacking and aggressive opportunities for Black. In the Semi-Slav, Black threatens to take the c-pawn and keep it.
The positions arising from the Semi-Slav are highly dynamic, and many lines can get quite theoretical.
Firouzja was able to hold a draw as Black against Duda. Perhaps his approach in future tournaments will change, as he has not lived up to expectations in this tournament.
Game 4: Ian Nepomniachtchi vs. Hikaru Nakamura
The Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6
Another Berlin Defense, though in this one we saw a theoretical variation we have not seen yet after 4.0-0.
Nepo signaled he only wanted to play for a draw, and Nakamura as Black would have had a tough time playing for a win without taking on a significant amount of risk.
Thus, we have the shortest game we have seen in this tournament (it lasted a mere few minutes) and each player took home half a point. Nepo still remains on top after this round with 8.5/12 points.
Round 13: Sunday, July 3, 2022
Game 1: Ian Nepomniachtchi vs. Richard Rapport
The Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Attack
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bg5
This is a subvariation of the Classical Sicilian, which is a subvariation of the Open Sicilian, where Black plays 5…d6 opening a diagonal for their light-squared bishop.
6.Bg5 is the best line, and is known as the Richter-Rauzer Attack. The opening is named after Vsevolod Rauzer. The move is obviously more aggressive than the subtle 6.Be2. By playing this move, White basically forces Black to play …e6, and Black usually wants to create fast counterplay on the queenside. White will usually castle queenside.
This variation has some fun attacking potential, and exciting games arise from it. Nepo, with only a draw here, will win this edition of the Candidates Tournament. Though Nepo was up against the flashiest tactician of the group, he managed to secure the draw and is the official winner of the 2022 FIDE Candidates Tournament.
Whether he will play Magnus Carlsen in the next World Championship tournament remains to be seen, so whoever finishes second place may instead face off against Nepo.
The Sicilian Najdorf
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc6 a6
Duda went for the theoretical and complex Najdorf, the most popular Sicilian variation in this tournament (and perhaps at the elite level).
Nakamura however broke through as White and got the only win in this round. This was the first time Duda has played the Sicilian Defense, in contrast to his usual Petrov Defense, so this opening was new for him in that regard (at least in this tournament).
Nakamura came into this round tied for 2nd, and although it is impossible for him to win the tournament, if Carlsen does not play, Nakamura could face off against Nepo in the World Championship. This win was very big for Nakamura.
Game 3: Alrieza Firouzja vs. Ding Liren
The Four Knights Game: Scotch Variation
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4
This is only the second time we have seen this opening in the tournament. The first was in Game 1 of Round 8 and also featured Ding Liren as Black.
Firouzja was not able to secure a second win, though he did carry half a point in this Scotch Game.
Game 4: Teimour Radjabov vs. Fabiano Caruana
The Catalan Opening
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3
Radjabov has shown he is a fan of this opening, first playing the Anti-Nimzo move 3.Nf3 and then transposing into the solid and nowadays very trendy Catalan.
Caruana held on for a draw, but it appears the hot streak he had earlier in the tournament is over. He and Radjabov are now tied with 6/13 points going into the final round.
Round 4: Monday, July 4, 2022
Game 1: Richard Rapport vs. Teimour Radjabov
The Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6
To close out the tournament, it was only fitting to see the tournament’s most popular opening, the Berlin Defense.
Radjabov had an amazing second half, securing the win here making three wins in the second half and four draws.
Game 2: Fabiano Caruana vs. Alireza Firouzja
The Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6
Again we see the Berlin, and again, the player as Black takes the win, defying the reputation of this opening as drawish.
It seems Firouzja maybe started to heat up in the second half; unfortunately, it was too little too late. He finishes 6/8 in the overall standings.
Game 3: Jan-Krzysztof Duda vs. Ian Nepomniachtchi
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6
The Petrov Defense
Being crowned the winner of the 2022 FIDE Candidates Tournament yesterday, Nepo played the Petrov, an opening he knows well.
At this moment, he was probably not playing for a win, as he has already won the tournament, so he achieved the draw against Duda. Even still, Nepo finished the tournament in first place, setting a Candidates Tournament record with 9.5/14 points. Very impressive.
Game 4: Ding Liren vs. Hikaru Nakamura
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c5
The Semi-Tarrasch
For the last game of the last round of the 2022 FIDE Candidates Tournament, we see a new opening in the tournament, the Semi-Tarrasch.
This opening, like so many 1.d4 openings in this tournament, came by way of a transposition. First a possible attempt at a Nimzo-Indian, then the Anti-Nimzo move, 3.Nf3, and after …d5, it became a Queen’s Gambit Declined.
The Semi-Tarrasch is a subvariation of the Queen’s Gambit Declined. It is a sort of symmetrical response and has a reputation of being stodgy and drawish, particularly at the high level.
For amateurs, this is a good opening for players that like to swerve tactical battles and simply develop and let a game happen.
Despite the drawish reputation it has, Ding Liren was able to crack through and get a win, for the third game of the round with a winner. He has now finished in second place. If Magnus Carlsen decides to not play the next World Championship, then we will see a Nepo and Ding Liren match-up.
