Alireza Firouzja, just 18 years old, was the clear winner of the Fide Grand Swiss, which concluded in Latvia last weekend. Originally from Iran but now settled in France, Firouzja already looks like a credible future contender for the world championship, and his victory in the Grand Swiss has earned him a spot in the 2022 Candidates tournament, which will select the next challenger for the world title.
The current challenger, Ian Nepomniachtchi, who won the Candidates tournament in April, will face the world champion Magnus Carlsen in Dubai later this month. Play begins on 26 November.
England’s David Howell also produced an outstanding performance in Riga, finishing in a tie for fourth place. The following finish, against a strong Ukrainian grandmaster, put him into the shared lead with two rounds remaining.
In a complex middlegame, David’s purposeful play has pinpointed the weak pawns on e4 and e5.
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