2024 FIDE Women's Candidates Toronto April 3-23

[Mick Norris]

It's pretty close between the top 4, crucial matchups tomorrow

Round 8 13th April at 19:30BST: Lagno-Goryachkina, Salimova-Muzychuk, Tan-Lei, Koneru-Vaishali.

[Jonathan Rogers]

(Much) closer now. That was quite the Petrosian impression by Lei. Has she now won three games in a row? She would be the only person in either event to do so.

[LawrenceCooper]

(Much) closer now. That was quite the Petrosian impression by Lei. Has she now won three games in a row? She would be the only person in either event to do so.

Yes, that's right. Vaishali has just lost three in a row.

[Matt Mackenzie]

Make that four in a row now, these events can be pretty brutal if you run into some bad form.

[LawrenceCooper]

Make that four in a row now, these events can be pretty brutal if you run into some bad form.

Yes, a rather sad collapse from a reasonable position.

[LawrenceCooper]

Heading into the third rest day:

Lei Tingjie & Tan 6.5/10
Goryachkina & Lagno 5.5
Koneru 4.5
Muzychuk & Salimova 4
Vaishali 3.5

[Mick Norris]

Vaishali on 3.5 after her win, Salimova on 4

[LawrenceCooper]

Vaishali on 3.5 after her win, Salimova on 4

Oh, Vaishali won against Salimova! Having gone to bed as the commentators were predicting Vaishali was about to resign I hadn't realised there had been a point swing!

[Matt Mackenzie]

Well she needed that

[Mick Norris]

No preference here, but pleased to see her stop losing

[LawrenceCooper]

No preference here, but pleased to see her stop losing

Agreed.

[LawrenceCooper]

Tan beats Lagno and could move a point clear with Lei Tingjie in trouble against Muzychuk.

[Mick Norris]

Lei drew, and is half a point behind, hard to see anyone else coming from 2 points down

[Jonathan Rogers]

The Chinese players have fought well in every game; by contrast Muzychuk and Lagno have been getting less than their positions from the middlegame would suggest more or less throughout the event. The resurgent Vaishali seems to have ended Goryachkina's chances.

So Loz was right in calling the Chinese players as favourites from the start. Now he has to pick the winner!

[LawrenceCooper]

The Chinese players have fought well in every game; by contrast Muzychuk and Lagno have been getting less than their positions from the middlegame would suggest more or less throughout the event. The resurgent Vaishali seems to have ended Goryachkina's chances.

So Loz was right in calling the Chinese players as favourites from the start. Now he has to pick the winner!

I'll pick Tan but will be happy to be proven wrong as I found Lei Tingjie's facial expressions in the world championship match very entertaining and wouldn't mind a repeat.