2023 FIDE World Cup Sun 30th Jul 2023 - Thu 24th Aug 2023

[Matt Mackenzie]

Ngl, it is a bit sub-optimal that the world's strongest player (now and possibly ever) doesn't actually seem to like chess that much.

[Mick Norris]

Carlsen - Ivanchuk
Wang Hao - Gukesh

Abasov - Salem
Vidit - Nepomniachtchi

Caruana - Duda
Dominguez - Sarana

Grandelius - Erigaisi
Berkes – Praggnanandhaa

[NickFaulks]

Ngl, it is a bit sub-optimal that the world's strongest player (now and possibly ever) doesn't actually seem to like chess that much.

I still like chess and I don't care about him.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Carlsen - Ivanchuk
Wang Hao - Gukesh

Abasov - Salem
Vidit - Nepomniachtchi

Caruana - Duda
Dominguez - Sarana

Grandelius - Erigaisi
Berkes – Praggnanandhaa

Since my Praggnanandhaa tip has held up so far (and Keymer came close), anyone else want to say who they think will get through to the quarters, semis and final (maybe even pick a winner)?

Will 2023 Ivanchuk be able to trouble Carlsen?

Is a Nepo-Carlsen semi a mouth-watering prospect?

Caruana has never won this event, can this be his year?

Are there less Russians than expected at this stage of the event? The presence of four players representing India in the last 16 is in some ways a real breakthrough, I think (no idea what the comparable figures are for previous World Cups).

The only people to have won more than one World Cup are Anand (2000 and 2002) and Aronian (2005 and 2017). Though the events Anand won were different to the FIDE format from 2005 onwards.

Bonus points if you are genuinely able to reel off the list of the 8 winners of the nine World Cups from 2005 to 2021.

Svidler was one of the previous winners who was eliminated. The only former winner left in the draw is the defending champion, Duda, who clearly is good at this format.

[Mick Norris]

I'll go for:

Carlsen
Gukesh

Abasov
Nepomniachtchi

Duda
Sarana

Erigaisi
Praggnanandhaa

[Matthew Turner]

I'll go for

Carlsen
Wang hao

Salem
Nepo

Carauana
Sarana

Erigaisi
Praggnanandhaa

[Paul Cooksey]

I'll go for the higher rated player in every match. Except in Carlsen-Ivanchuk obviously. You guys have no romance in your souls!

[Mick Norris]

Chris asking lots of questions, so I'll add one; is this the most players with surnames ending in a that have reached this stage?

And to complete the predictions, I'll go:

Paehtz
Shuvalova

Tan Zhongyi
Goryachkina

[Ian Jamieson]

Chris asking lots of questions, so I'll add one; is this the most players with surnames ending in a that have reached this stage?

And to complete the predictions, I'll go:

Paehtz
Shuvalova

Tan Zhongyi
Goryachkina

Probably not in the Women’s World Cup but I assume you mean the (Open) World Cup.

[LawrenceCooper]

Carlsen - Ivanchuk
Wang Hao - Gukesh

Abasov - Salem
Vidit - Nepomniachtchi

Caruana - Duda
Dominguez - Sarana

Grandelius - Erigaisi
Berkes – Praggnanandhaa

Wins for Carlsen, Gukesh, Abasov, Dominguez & Erigaisi in game 1.

[LawrenceCooper]

Women's quarter-finals:

Paehtz – Muzychuk (A)
Shuvalova -Salimova

Khotenashvili -Tan Zhongyi
Harika -Goryachkina

4. 6. 2. The players who finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd shall qualify to the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament to be held in the first half of 2024.

If any of these three players has already qualified for the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2024 at the moment of the beginning of WWCup via another qualification track, the unallocated spot(s) shall be awarded, to another track determined by the Regulations for the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2024 and “Qualification for the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2024”

Goryachkina is already in the Candidates (along with Lagno) from the Grand Prix

Wins for Salimova & Tan in game 1.

[GrahamStuart]

Simon Williams and Jovanka Houska back doing the commentary today. Nothing against the other commentators but I enjoy this pairing. Although best to mute the chat.

[LawrenceCooper]

Carlsen - Ivanchuk
Wang Hao - Gukesh

Abasov - Salem
Vidit - Nepomniachtchi

Caruana - Duda
Dominguez - Sarana

Grandelius - Erigaisi
Berkes – Praggnanandhaa

Wins for Carlsen, Gukesh, Abasov, Dominguez & Erigaisi in game 1.

Some early results: Magnus through 2-0 and Dominguez, Erigaisi & Gukesh all qualify with draws today and a win yesterday.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Caruana (though some lines are complicated - they are at move 28) about to knock out Duda and join the other four in the quarters. Abasov and Pragg also about to win and go through.

Looks like only Vidit-Nepo will go to the faster time controls.

EDIT: Praggnanandhaa found a lovely 'only move' sacrifice on move 31.

[LawrenceCooper]

Carlsen - Ivanchuk
Wang Hao - Gukesh

Abasov - Salem
Vidit - Nepomniachtchi

Caruana - Duda
Dominguez - Sarana

Grandelius - Erigaisi
Berkes – Praggnanandhaa

Wins for Carlsen, Gukesh, Abasov, Dominguez & Erigaisi in game 1.

Some early results: Magnus through 2-0 and Dominguez, Erigaisi & Gukesh all qualify with draws today and a win yesterday.

Abasov, Caruana & Pragg also through with just Nepo-Vidit going to tie-breaks.

The women's has been more dramatic with at least two tie-breaks and possibly a third. No one is through so far.