Magnus Carlsen withdraws from Candidates 2024, the spot goes to Nijat Abasov

Despite qualifying for the Candidates Tournament 2024 by winning the 2023 FIDE World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan, world #1 Magnus Carlsen officially withdrew from the event. Carlsen had previously stated his disinclination after reaching the semifinals of the World Cup and in some private interviews; however, the formal Letter of Decline was received by FIDE today, January 13, 2024.

According to the FIDE Candidates qualification paths, the vacant spot at the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024 goes to the next highest finisher in the 2023 FIDE World Cup, Nijat Abasov (2641, Azerbaijan), who is fourth in the tournament final standings.

The current lineup of the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024 is the following:

– Ian Nepomniachtchi, FIDE, 2023 Match Runner-up

– Praggnanandhaa R, India, 2023 World Cup 2nd

– Fabiano Caruana, USA, 2023 World Cup 3rd

– Nijat Abasov, Azerbaijan, 2023 World Cup 4th

– Vidit Santosh Gujrathi, India, 2023 Grand Swiss 1st

– Hikaru Nakamura, USA, 2023 Grand Swiss 2nd

– Alireza Firouzja, France, Best by Rating

– Gukesh D, India, 2023 FIDE Circuit Winner

The FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024 will take place in April 2024 in Toronto, Canada. The winner of this 8-player double round-robin (all-play-all twice) will become the Challenger for the chess crown and play in the FIDE World Championship Match against the reigning world champion Ding Liren (China).