Who challenges Magnus Carlsen? Chess World Cup 2020 Candidates Tournament: Caruana favorite on Carlsen duel according to betting odds
Chess World Cup 2020 candidate tournament 17.03.2020 – 04.04.2020, favorites & betting odds
Many sports have recently fallen victim to the rampant corona virus. Football, handball, tennis, ice hockey or basketball, the most popular sports are largely on ice. Here and there, however, there are still betting offers that are quite interesting. For example, who wins the 2020 Chess World Cup candidate tournament.
We are looking for the challenger of the Danish world champion Magnus Carlsen. The 29-year-old has been the current champion since 2013. Not everyone can compete against the title holder. Only the best challenger gets the right to start the World Cup games against the world champion. For this, a candidate tournament was set up in which the eight best chess players, after or next to Magnus Carlsen, determine the opponent of the Dane.
Candidates tournament for the World Chess Championship 2020 – best odds
🇺🇸 United States – Fabiano Caruana
♜ Odds: 2.25
🇨🇳 China – Ding Liren
♜ Odds: 2.75
🇫🇷 France – Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
♜ Odds: 8.50
🇷🇺 Russian Federation – Ian Nepomniachi
♜ Odds: 11:00
🇷🇺 Russian Federation – Alexander Grischuk
♜ Odds: 1.00
🇳🇱 Netherlands – Anish Giri
♜ Odds: 3:00
🇨🇳 China – Hao Wang
♜ Odds: 34.00
🇷🇺 Russian Federation – Kiril Alekseenko
♜ Odds: 126.00
The host of the candidate tournament is not in danger. The Russian Ekaterinburg will be the place where the challenger will be found. Up to this point, the corona virus has affected Russia only rudimentarily. However, the corona virus still has an impact on the event in Yekaterinburg.
One of the favorites of the candidate tournament, the Azerbaijani Teimur Radjabov, who at least won the 2019 World Chess Cup, has canceled his participation in the tournament because he would have preferred a transfer due to the current global situation. So he loses his chance of possibly becoming world champion, and the prediction for the Azerbaijani was promising at the 2020 Candidate Tournament.
The two Chinese Ding Liren and Wang Hao were also asked to go to Russia in good time so that they could complete a fortnightly quarantine before the tournament. In the meantime, the eight players have gathered in Yekatarinburg. If we believe the bookmakers’ betting odds in the run-up to the 2020 chess championship, the American Fabiano Caruana is the favorite.
By the way, the game is played in a round robin, which means everyone plays against everyone. Whoever can boast the best values in the end is playing for the world title. It is not yet clear where the title fight, which is to be held in autumn, will take place. The only thing that is currently clear is that Magnus Carlsen will face a strong opponent there.
Candidate tournament for the World Chess Championship 2020 – favorites
🇺🇸 United States – Fabiano Caruana
♜ Qualified as Vice Wetmeister 2018
♜ Position in the world rankings: 2
Similar to Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana is also considered a prodigy of chess. The American with Italian roots was already the challenger in the World Cup fight in 2018. He kept the game against Carlsen open for a long time. After the regular games it was 6: 6. Only in the tie breaks did Fabiano Caruana give up.
Tournament victory 2020 in Eindhoven for Caruana
So two years ago the American was close to the world title. That is why it is once again a favorite at the 2020 chess championship candidate tournament. In January of this year Fabiano Caruana won the Tata Steel Masters in Eindhoven and put Magnus Carlsen in second place there. However, the two grandmasters separated in a direct duel with a draw.
His current ELO number is 2842. Fabiano Caruana is 20 points behind Magnus Carlsen in second place in the world rankings. Basically, the Italo-American is the logical challenger for the world champion. However, some of his opponents are tough, so victory in the candidate tournament does not seem certain.
🇨🇳 China – Ding Liren
♜ Qualified as second at the World Chess Cup 2019
♜ Position in the world rankings: 3
The Chinese will be asking how they survived the quarantine in Russia. However, 14 days without distraction is probably not the worst preparation for an important chess tournament. Therefore, the 14-day withdrawal may be more positive for Ding Liren.
The 27-year-old qualified second for this candidate tournament at the World Chess Cup 2019, behind Teimur Radjabov. However, Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana, among others, were not at the start of this tournament. What this second place is worth should therefore only be shown in the games in Yekatarinburg.
Ding Liren current champion of the Grand Chess Tour
In 2019 Ding Liren won the Grand Chess Tour. This shows that he delivers consistently good results. With a current ELO number of 2805, the Chinese ranks third in the world rankings. Ding Liren was not at the start at the Tata Steel Masters in January. The Chinese therefore have no real references in 2020 at the moment.
🇷🇺 Russian Federation – Ian Nepomniachi
♜ Second at the FIDE Grand Prix 2019
♜ Position in the world rankings: 5
Although Alexander Grischuk is currently the best Russian in fourth place in the world rankings, Ian Nepomniachi is currently rated slightly higher by the best betting providers. However, the Russians in particular have an almost inexhaustible reservoir of first-class chess players and grandmasters.
Ian Nepomniachi is looked after by Vladmir Potkin, who was once a European chess champion and has the relevant experience. In addition, the home advantage should speak for the Russian, although this is less due to the fans than to the familiar environment in their own country. Therefore, it might be worthwhile to place bets on the Russians at the 2020 Candidate Tournament.
Specialist in flash chess
The Russian did not take part in the Tata Steel Masters this season either. Preparing for the candidate tournament was a top priority. His current ELO number is 2774. Ian Nepomniachi is known for his unconventional style of play. Although the Russian is considered a secret favorite, he is more of a specialist for games with shorter thinking times than now at the candidate tournament.
🇫🇷 France – Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
♜ Second at the FIDE Grand Prix 2019
♜ Position in the world rankings: 5
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave has played in the foreground in many tournaments, but did not qualify directly for the candidate tournament. Actually, he would be the first candidate for a wildcard that the Russian organizer can issue. Although two Russians were already directly qualified, the wildcard went to another Russian player.
As a successor in the field
However, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave is still there in Yekatarinburg through the back door, so to speak as a profiteer of Teimur Radjabov’s cancellation. However, this does not mean that the Frenchman is now an outsider.
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave has now moved up as the player with the highest average ELO rating who is not yet qualified for the tournament. His ELO number is currently at 2767. This puts the Frenchman in fifth place in the world rankings. Perhaps in Yekatarinburg he is more than just the tip of the scales. He always has what it takes.
Candidate tournament for the 2020 World Chess Championship – outsiders
In addition to the four players mentioned, four other players are starting at the candidate tournament in Yekaterinburg. Apart from Ian Nepomniachi, the Russians also hope for Alexander Grischuk, who won the FIDE Grand Prix last year. If we believe the odds at the 2020 Candidate Tournament, the Russian is at least an interesting outsider.
Anish Giri is a big outsider in the candidate tournament. He is considered the king of draws in the world of chess, which he demonstrated at the 2016 Candidates Tournament, for example, when all of his games ended in a tie. He lacks the great results. Only thanks to its high ELO number is it at the start in Russia.
Wang Hao is something like the lucky bag in Yekatarinburg. On good days he is able to defeat all opponents. Conversely, it also applies that he can lose against any opponent. The Chinese is considered a creative player on the tour, who plays chess very aggressively, which is why he is also in good hands with blitz chess.
Alekseenko biggest outsider
The clearest outsider is Kiril Alekseenko. The Russian is the youngest player in this tournament and only slipped into the field thanks to a wildcard. If the candidate tournament had not just been held in Russia, the 22-year-old would hardly be at the start. Everywhere, it is expected that Kiril Alekseenko will take last place.
Betting Tips & betting base trend – who will win the 2020 chess championship candidate tournament?
Bookmakers expect seven of the eight participants to win this tournament and qualify for the World Cup fight against Magnus Carlsen. Only Kiril Alekseenko feels no chances are given. Vice World Champion Fabiano Caruana is the big favorite. The American was already in duels with Magnus Carlsen two years ago.
With the victory at the Tata Steel Masters, he already demonstrated his qualities in 2020. Therefore, it might make sense to use the betting odds on the Italian-American at the candidate tournament for the 2020 World Chess Championship.
Ding Liren and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave are still served by the betting providers with single-digit odds. The Frenchman only slipped into the field as a successor, while the two Chinese were in quarantine for 14 days before they were allowed to participate in the competitions. But maybe that’s an advantage too.
Key facts – Candidate tournament for the 2020 World Chess Championship – betting
♜ Fabiano Caruana is the favorite as Vice World Champion.
♜ Maxime Vachier-Lagrave is a successor to the tournament.
♜ Ding Liren is the current winner of the Grand Chess Tour.
Alexander Grischuk and Ian Nepomniachi have the home advantage, but at least three gentlemen are currently likely to be a little stronger. Anish Giri should have little chance of winning. The Dutchman is a king of draws and you will hardly qualify for a world championship fight. More than one midfield place should not be possible.
We think Fabiano Caruana has the best chance of securing the match against Magnus Carlsen again. The American won the Tata Steel Masters and is number two in the world rankings behind the Danish world champion. It therefore makes sense to place bets on Fabiano Caruana in the 2020 Candidate Tournament.
Candidate tournament for the World Chess Championship 2020 – best betting odds
🇺🇸 United States – Fabiano Caruana
♜ Odds: 2.25
🇨🇳 China – Ding Liren
♜ Odds: 2.75
🇫🇷 France – Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
♜ Odds: 8.50
🇷🇺 Russian Federation – Ian Nepomniachi
♜ Odds: 11:00
🇷🇺 Russian Federation – Alexander Grischuk
♜ Odds: 1.00
🇳🇱 Netherlands – Anish Giri
♜ Odds: 3:00
🇨🇳 China – Hao Wang
♜ Odds: 34.00
🇷🇺 Russian Federation – Kiril Alekseenko
♜ Odds: 126.00