Russian women against Chinese women. Who is the real favorite of the 2024 Chess Candidates Tournament?
Tatyana Postnikova April 3, 2024, 10:45 Moscow time Audio version: Your browser does not support the audio element.
Who most deserves a ticket to the title fight?
On Thursday, April 4, the 2024 Candidates Tournament begins in Toronto (Canada). Eight of the strongest chess players in the world will compete, with the exception of the current holder of the crown Ju Wenjun and Hou Yifan, who has dedicated himself to science and technology. teaching. for the right to play in the title game. Two Russians, Ekaterina Lagno and Alexandra Goryachkina, will also fight for victory.
The girls will determine which of them is the best on the board. And we invite you to decide who is most worthy of winning by voting.
The rating depends entirely on the votes of the “Championship” readers and is formed online.
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Rankings: who should win the 2024 Candidates Tournament?
Photo: RIA Novosti
Alexandra Goryachkina (Russia)
The Russian received a ticket to the competition as second place in the FIDE Grand Prix. The 25-year-old Goryachkina already won the candidate tournament in 2019, although in the title match she lost to Ju Wenjun in the tiebreaker 6: 6 (1.5: 2.5) a year later.
Alexandra’s achievements include three Russian champion titles (2015, 2017, 2020) and a World Cup victory (2023). In addition, Goryachkina has a unique achievement. She is the highest-rated Russian and the fourth highest-rated woman in history. Goryachkina’s maximum rating was 2611 Elo, only Judit Polgar, Hou Yifan and Humpy Koneru had more.
Currently, Alexandra is in third place in the FIDE ranking with 2553 points.
Photo: RIA Novosti
Ekaterina Lagno (Russia)
The Russian earned a place in the 2024 Candidates Tournament thanks to her victory in the FIDE Grand Prix. In 2018, Lagno participated in the world title knockout tournament and lost in the tiebreaker to Ju Wenjun 2:2 (1:3).
In addition, 34-year-old Ekaterina has many other achievements. Lahno is a three-time world blitz champion (2010, 2018, 2019), two-time European champion (2005, 2008), world rapid champion (2014), as well as multiple winners of the world and European team championships.
Now in the FIDE ranking, Ekaterina is in sixth place (2542).
Photo: Hk Rajashekar/Getty Images
Hampi Koneru (India)
The Indian earned a ticket to the competition because she had the highest FIDE rating in January 2024. Koneru, 37, has appeared in title fights three times during her career. In the 2006 knockout tournament she was eliminated in the second round, in 2008 she was eliminated in the semi-finals and in 2011 she lost to Hou Yifan in the chess crown match by 2.5:5.5.
Hampi also holds the title of Asian champion (2003), world rapid chess champion (2019) and world rapid chess runner-up (2023).
Koneru is currently fifth in the FIDE rankings with 2546 points.
Photo: ruchess.ru
Nurgul Salimova (Bulgaria)
The Bulgarian qualified for the Toronto competition thanks to her second place at the 2023 World Cup. Previously, 20-year-old Nurgul did not participate in the Candidates Tournament. Salimova does not have a very long list of achievements. The chess player was proclaimed champion of Bulgaria (2017) and runner-up in the World Cup (2023).
Now in the FIDE ranking Nurgul is ranked 36th (2432).
Photo: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
Rameshbabu Vaishali (India)
The Indian representative qualified for the Candidates Tournament thanks to her first place in the Grand Swiss 2023. Until then, the 22-year-old chess player had never achieved such important victories in her career. Vaishali has only won the U12 and U14 women’s world championships.
Vaishali is currently ranked 15th in the FIDE rankings (2475).
Photo: FIDE
Tan Zhongyi (China)
The Chinese obtained a place in the Candidates Tournament after finishing second in the Grand Swiss. Zhongyi is the only participant in this year’s competition who previously became a world champion. Tan held the chess crown from 2017 to 2018 and presented it to the current champion, Ju Wenjun.
In addition, the 32-year-old chess player was proclaimed champion of China (2015) and bronze medalist of the World Cup (2021).
Now in the FIDE rankings, Zhongyi is in seventh place with 2521 points.
Photo: RIA Novosti
Lei Tingjie (China)
The Chinese qualified for the Candidates Tournament as the loser of the 2023 title match. Overall, the 27-year-old Lei participated twice more in the battle for the chess crown. In the 2015 elimination tournament she was eliminated in the second round and in 2018 in the quarterfinals.
Tingjie’s achievements also include victory at the Chinese Championships (2017), bronze at the World Blitz Championships (2018), and silver and bronze at the World Rapid Championships (2019, 2023).
Now in the FIDE classification the Chinese woman occupies fourth place with 2550 points.
Anna Muzychuk (Ukraine)
The Ukrainian qualified for the Candidates Tournament after placing third at the 2023 World Cup. In 2017, Muzychuk participated in the elimination tournament for the title of world champion and reached the final, where she lost in the tiebreaker to Tan Zhongyi by 2 ,5:3,5. .
During her career, Anna, 34, won the World Blitz Championship twice (2014, 2016) and the World Rapid Championship once (2016).
Now in the FIDE ranking Muzychuk occupies eighth place with 2520 points.
