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As I write this question, Ian Nepomniachtchi is leading the ongoing Candidates tournament by a substantial margin. Since it's a winner-takes-all tournament, everyone else needs Nepomniachtchi to lose.

Are the other players allowed to discuss how to achieve this collective goal? For example can they suggest openings to whoever is playing Nepomniachtchi, or discuss whether one should take risks and possibly lose in return for a chance at winning (as Rapport did in his game against Nepomniachtchi )?

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    Is it really winner-takes-all tournament? lichess.org/blog/YrzaZBIAACAAqAlz/….
    – Akavall
    Jun 30 at 16:57
  • @Akavall that's only if Carlsen doesn't defend his title. If he doesn't play, he'd be the first active world number 1 who's not interested in being world champion. (Kasparov and Fischer were both inactive when they quit.)
    – Allure
    Jul 1 at 6:25
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    There is prize money too (chess.com/article/view/…) so it's not stricly winner-takes-all.
    – RemcoGerlich
    Jul 1 at 11:44

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Are the other players allowed to discuss how to achieve this collective goal? For example can they suggest openings to whoever is playing Nepomniatchi

While the games are in progress this is strictly forbidden. In between games this is perfectly acceptable. What would not be acceptable would be to pre-arrange quick draws amongst themselves to conserve energy for their fights with Nepo. This happened in Soviet times when the Soviets dominated world chess.

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    Is there anywhere these rules (regarding discussions/collusion between the games) are rigorously defined or spelt out 'on paper'?
    – Mobeus Zoom
    Jul 1 at 0:35
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    Even if some of the others colluded, with the common aim to prevent Nepo winning, would quick draws among themselves be the best way to seek to achieve this aim? That would seem to lessen the expected target point-total for Nepo to beat. Wouldn't a better aim be to try to promote one particular player? What rules are there to outlaw this?
    – Rosie F
    Jul 1 at 5:29

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