The FIDE Candidates Chess tournament 2024 has produced a whopping 25 decisive results from a total 56 games in 14 rounds. That almost  reaches 50% of the games played - an impressive number.

Now, in such a high pressure event with arguably strongest players in the world, how do so many decisive wins get scored?

Generally, a young student of the game who learns chess mostly assumes that tactical strength is what counts if one were to achieve decisive victories. After all, what is aggression but to play with force, sacrificing a few pieces on the board?!

A game of chess is often an open tactical fight

If sharpness of play and tactical ability are the technical skills which matter the most, Vidit Gujrathi’s win against Hikaru Nakamura from the second round emphasises the very theory:

Vidit Gujrathi played a brilliant tactical win over Hikaru Nakamura.
Picture courtesy: FIDE / Maria Emelianova

It is not every day that one can create a tactical battle on the board. After all, a game of chess is also a delightful ground for strategic manoeuvrings. The inherent strength of your position often helps you to slowly outwit the opponent with patient play.

Strength of one’s own position matters on the chess board

Dommaraju Gukesh showed such nuanced understanding of the game in the eighth round when he outwitted Gujrathi with black pieces. 

His patient manoeuvrings resulted in establishing firm control of the a-file, and one could not but admire his patience in playing a move like 25…Kf8! leaving White with a hopeless position. A clear case of strength of one’s position itself being enough to win the game.

Imagination and creativity have a special place in a player’s armoury. Often, a single idea or a move can elevate a single game to become an ‘Immortal’. The best of the masters have always impressed us with their creative prowess, leaving chess fans in awe of the capability that the best of cognitive abilities can produce.

Creativity is what paints a game of chess in intense colours

Alireza Firouzja is one of the most colourful and creative players in the world. One can never expect what to expect from the young French Grandmaster. His 11th round win over Abasov started in an original fashion, with a harmless looking opening setup.

Position after 8…0-0, everything looking calm and quiet.

But in just a matter of 11 moves, Firouzja seemed to have worked magic, creating a middlegame zugzwang.

Caption: Position after 19.Bc5, with the black pieces hardly able to show any movement!

Firouzja produced elegant creativity against Abasov.
Picture courtesy: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Thus, as a player learns the intricacies of the game and learns to appreciate multi-dimensional strength on the chess board from such players of varying range of proficiencies, that’s when it is time to appreciate its mysteries and fall in love with the game.

Chess is magic