In the lead-up to the highly anticipated Candidates Tournament, renowned chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen has shared his verdict on the eight contenders vying for the opportunity to challenge current World Champion Ding Liren. Carlsen's rankings, based on his analysis of each player's performance, were unveiled during a recent discussion with GM David Howell on Chess.com.

Using five different categories to evaluate the chess prodigies, Carlsen provided insights into their potential outcomes in the tournament. Let's delve into Carlsen's rankings and analysis for each player.

First on Carlsen's list is Alireza Firouzja, whom he believes has shown impressive skills in previous tournaments. Carlsen expressed his faith in Firouzja's abilities, placing him in the category of "Will Do Well." Despite the difficulties Firouzja faced in the past, Carlsen remains a firm believer in his potential for success.

Next, Carlsen discussed the two-time Candidates winner, Ian Nepomniachtchi. While acknowledging Nepomniachtchi's lackluster performance in recent years, Carlsen still considers him a strong contender. Placing Nepomniachtchi in the "Top Contender" group, Carlsen suggests that the Russian grandmaster saves his best for this specific tournament.

Gukesh, a talented player with promising potential, received Carlsen's verdict in the "Will Do Poorly" category. Carlsen believes that Gukesh will display moments of brilliance but also expects him to encounter challenging losses. Carlsen emphasizes that Gukesh is not quite ready to make a significant breakthrough at this stage.

Carlsen also assessed Rauf Abasov as being "In for a Bad Time." Although Abasov had an exceptional tournament at the World Cup, Carlsen doubts his ability to replicate that success in the Candidates. Should Abasov start on a positive note, Carlsen believes he might limit the damage, but overall, the competition will likely be challenging for him.

Praggnanandhaa, a player with great potential, was labeled by Carlsen as unlikely to win the tournament but also unlikely to have a poor result. Carlsen recognizes Praggnanandhaa's psychological stability and his dedication to improvement. However, victory in the tournament seems beyond his reach at this point.

Claiming that Fabiano Caruana has a high chance of winning, Carlsen placed him in the "Likely to Win" category. Despite Caruana's slight dip in performance since his peak in 2018, Carlsen believes Caruana's pedigree and regained strength make him a strong contender.

Vidit, according to Carlsen, falls somewhere between the categories of "Will Do Well" and "Will Do Poorly." While Vidit has shown improvement, Carlsen speculates that his performance may fluctuate depending on the specific circumstances. Carlsen acknowledges Vidit's potential to achieve a good score if things go his way but also warns of possible losses.

Finally, Carlsen highlighted Hikaru Nakamura as a co-favorite alongside Caruana. Carlsen believes that Nakamura has never had a better chance to become world champion. Consistency in his recent performances puts Nakamura in the "Likely to Win" category and heightens expectations for a strong showing from him.

These rankings from Carlsen have sparked discussions and debates among chess enthusiasts. As the Candidates Tournament approaches, fans eagerly await to see if Carlsen's predictions align with the actual outcomes. Only time will tell which player will emerge victorious and earn the right to challenge Ding Liren for the coveted World Championship title.