Chess: Ian Nepomniachtchi beat Duda to wins the 2022 Candidates Tournament becomes challenger for World Champion title.

Nepomniachtchi finished the tournament on 9.5/14 after drawing the last game. Ding Liren overcame Hikaru Nakamura in a thrilling five-hour match to claim second place.

The 14th and last round of the 2022 Candidates initially held little promise. All four games were composed, the situations were equal, and it appeared that we would have a day of draws. There was only one draw instead.

Ian Nepomniachtchi, who won the competition after round 13 ended in a draw, did not care about the results of today's round. But this game had psychological significance for him: Nepomniachtchi didn't want the last Candidates, which he also won with a round to spare but lost the championship game, to happen again.

which he too won with a round to spare, but lost the subsequent game, leaving his wonderful success with a bitter aftertaste.

Nepomniachtchi will take on champion Magnus Carlsen for the world title in 2023 now.

Nepomniachtchi was under psychological pressure from Jan-Krzysztof Duda while playing the Petrov because he appeared to be considerably more at ease and at ease with himself than he had appeared throughout the rest of the tournament.

The game was even at all times. While Nepomniachtchi consistently provided adequate and assured responses in response to Duda's opportunities, the game ended in a draw without much controversy.

What's has been said by FIDE.

“In terms of results, today’s round did not matter for Ian Nepomniachtchi, who secured victory in the event following a draw in round 13. However, this game was psychologically important for him: Nepomniachtchi didn’t want a repeat of the previous Candidates, which he also won with a round to spare but then lost the final game which gave a bitter aftertaste to his great success.”

What If champion Magnus Charlsen denies to defend his title.?

The Norwegian, who has won the previous five world championships, revealed in December that he wasn't sure if he would defend his title due to a lack of motivation, so his matchup with Carlsen is far from final.

Nepomniachtchi would next compete against Hikaru Nakamura of the United States, who was ranked second going into the last round of the Candidates.

2022 Chess FIDE Candidates Tournament, Last 8 Final Standings.

1 Nepomniachtchi, Ian 9½/14 2766

2 Ding, Liren 8/14 2806

3 Radjabov, Teimour 7½/14 2753

4 Nakamura, Hikaru 7½/14 2760

5 Caruana, Fabiano 6½/14 2783

6 Firouzja, Alireza 6/14 2793

7 Duda, Jan-Krzysztof 5½/14 2750

8 Rapport, Richard 5½/14 2764

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FIDE.com