#FIDECandidates – International Chess Federation

Javokhir Sindarov: “I will try to win the World Championship match.”

editor_d — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 19:36:02 +0000

After winning the FIDE Candidates 2026, Javokhir Sindarov gave an in-depth interview to Charlyze van Zyle, in which he shared his ambitions and long-term goals. The Uzbek GM reflects on his path to victory, discusses his preparation, and reveals key insights into his work with his coach. Below you will find both text and video versions of this interview.

Charlize van Zyl: I am here with Javokhir Sindarov, FIDE Candidates 2026 winner. You’ve had some time for this result to settle in. Congratulations once again. Take me back to the night, after round thirteen, what happened? Who was the first person you spoke to? How did the celebrations go?

Javokhir Sindarov: It was a fantastic day for me and for our country. Everyone started celebrating after the result. I received millions of messages from my friends, my parents and my family, and also from our federation and government. It’s a huge victory for our country, and everyone was very happy. The next day, our president even called me to congratulate me, which really surprised me. I’m very happy to have won this tournament.

Charlize van Zyl: Is that something you’re starting to get used to, getting congratulations from the president?

Javokhir Sindarov: No, of course not. You need to achieve big victories to get a call like that. I’m very happy. I already won the World Cup, now the FIDE Candidates, and hopefully by the end of the year I will try to win the World Championship match as well. It gives me a lot of motivation.

Charlize van Zyl: Let’s talk about the event. You mentioned earlier in one of the press conferences that your coach hoped for +1 at the midpoint, but you finished +6 (10/14), which is incredible. Did you ever lose confidence that that would happen? What was your goal at halfway?

Javokhir Sindarov: Actually, my coach told me that if I finished the first half with +1, I would have good chances to win the tournament. But I finished +5. At the same time, I knew the second half would be much harder, especially with important games where I had Black. These games take a lot of energy and good preparation. Probably, the key moment of the tournament was my draw against Fabi. After that, I started to feel like I could win. I was also a bit lucky; Caruana was always very close to me, he won some games in the first half, but he lost a few in the second half. Then he lost to Anish, who had good chances too. But after beating Pragg, I was ahead of Anish by two points with four rounds left. I realized that anything could still happen, but I felt 90% sure I would win. I’m very happy that I played very well with Black and I didn’t lose any games. It was a very good streak, and I’m very happy with my results.

Charlize van Zyl: Many players say they take it game by game, but you seemed very conscious of the standings. Did that add more stress to you?

Javokhir Sindarov: Not really. I always try to prepare very well. With White, I’m ready to fight, but in the second half after the draw with FabiI thought I had to play with White also some forced solid drawish lines. I didn’t need long, complicated games; I wanted to save energy for the critical ones with Black.

But if my opponent chose sharp lines, such as the King’s Indian or Benko, I was ready to fight. On the other hand, if they played solidly, I was fine with a draw. I think this strategy worked perfectly. Against Anish I played really well, it was a nice game: maybe if he had defeated Wei Yi the tournament situation would have changed a little bit but after he drew I thought I had a 99% chance to win the tournament. Therefore, I made two quick draws in the last two games, everyone would have done the same. Remember that Nepo in 2022 did the same, although he did have some trouble with Black in two games, whereas I had problems here only against Fabi and in the first game. I played very well, I was also lucky, of course, and I took advantage of my opponent’s mistakes, which is very important.

Charlize van Zyl: Your game against Anish was your favourite one? Which victory are you most proud of?

Javokhir Sindarov: I really loved my game against Fabi with White. It was a very clean game; I found the best moves, the best tactics, and managed time pressure. A fantastic game in which I showed another level, which I am capable of demonstrating.

Charlize van Zyl: Since our pre-event interviews, you have been very confident about your winning chances, but you mentioned last week was the most difficult of your life, sleeping, eating, and handling pressure. How did you manage that?

Javokhir Sindarov: It’s always hard when you’re leading a tournament. You start thinking about the outcome. The last week was very hard for me, but after my draw against Fabi, I felt much better. The three games previous to that one went easy for me, with hardly any stress. I was well-prepared, had more than an hour on the clock, and I played positions in my style. But with Fabi the position did not suit my style, and it’s hard for me to play these types of positions. That game was very long and took a lot of energy, but after surviving, I felt like I would win the tournament. After that, I slept better and didn’t feel as much stress.

Charlize van Zyl: Let’s talk about your preparation. It’s been a big talking point. You seemed to out-prepare your opponents. How does your team work? Who takes what responsibilities, and what do you do before the games?

Javokhir Sindarov: Before the tournament, we worked very hard. Everyone in my team did their job at the highest level. We prepared many opening lines and ideas.

During the tournament, we didn’t do much new work; I mainly refreshed my files, what I had already studied. The key was the preparation before the event. We were very lucky with Fabi and Hikaru, guessing their opening choices right.

Charlize van Zyl: So during the tournament, it’s mostly about reviewing rather than learning new things? Although you also mentioned training games?

Javokhir Sindarov: Exactly. Before the tournament, we did a lot of work. During the tournament, I just repeat and make sure I don’t forget anything. We play some board games as well.

Charlize van Zyl: You will face Gukesh at the end of the year, when will your preparation for that start?

Javokhir Sindarov: Actually I don’t know. My preparation will start from next week, to think about this match and do some small planning, but right now I’m focussed on playing some strong tournaments, such as the Grand Chess Tour and the Olympiad.

Charlize van Zyl: You mentioned your coach, Roman Vidonyak. You started working with him in January 2025. He told us that you were working over the board, no computers, old school. How has your training changed with him?

Javokhir Sindarov: Before, I worked hard, but sometimes it was boring. I would get distracted with video games and other things.

With Roman, training is always interesting. He gives puzzles and exercises, and time passes very quickly, we can work for eight hours without noticing. We often train in groups, which makes it fun and competitive. All his students love working with him.

Charlize van Zyl: So he made training more enjoyable?

Javokhir Sindarov: Yes, exactly. We do a lot of interesting and fun things, but we also work very hard. Sometimes we compete solving puzzles, to see who solves faster. If you train seriously for eight hours every day without some sort of distraction, you burn out: after five days you are done. But we balance it well.

Charlize van Zyl: You mentioned there was a period when you became a Grandmaster, but you weren’t as focused on chess and training. You also mentioned seeing your peers doing much better. What changed?

Javokhir Sindarov: The quarantine changed my life. After that, I started working much harder. I scored a big win in the World Cup against a top player, Alireza Firouzja, and that gave me a lot of motivation. I was very young, only 15 years old, and he was 2750 and a top ten player. I won three games and advanced to the round of 32.

That was a key moment: I realized I could compete at the highest level. Since then, I’ve been working much more seriously. My life changed a lot. With Roman I really started to work hard at chess.

Charlize van Zyl: Your coach mentioned a long-term goal of becoming world number one. Can you tell us about that goal?

Javokhir Sindarov: Yes, I believe it’s possible. Everyone has a chance. He has always told me that I have talent. The young generation is very strong, and we all have opportunities. My goal is to play good chess and win games; that’s what drives me.

I am eager to win in any game: if I play Counterstrike, I don’t play for fun, I always play to win, card games, board games – it doesn’t matter.

My next step is to try and win the World Championship but I have to work hard and in a few years my goal is to become the best player in the world.

Charlize van Zyl: There’s already hype about your potential World Championship match being one of the youngest ever. Does that historical weight mean anything to you?

Javokhir Sindarov: Not really. It’s not a big surprise to me. After the previous era, it’s natural that the younger generation takes over. We are two very strong Grand Masters and I’m just part of that generation. After Carlsen, right now the young generation is emerging rapidly.

Charlize van Zyl: You mentioned that you would like the match to be played in a sunny place such as Cyprus. How did you enjoy your time here?

Javokhir Sindarov: Everything was fantastic. The place is beautiful, and the weather was fantastic. The hotel and the conditions were all great. We had time to play tennis and video games and relax. I really enjoyed it.

Charlize van Zyl: Thank you so much, and congratulations again.

Javokhir Sindarov: Thank you very much.

Photos: Michal Walusza, Yoav Nis and Niki Riga

An emotional farewell to a historic 2026 Candidates

editor_d — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 21:01:17 +0000

The closing ceremony of the 2026 FIDE Candidates and Women’s Candidates was a vibrant and memorable finale, an evening filled with emotion, celebration, and a distinctly Cypriot charm.

Set against the stunning beachfront of the St. George’s Hotel & Resort, the one-and-a-half-hour show blended traditional dance, live music, bursts of fireworks, and moments of light-hearted humour.

Hosts Maurice Ashley and Charlize Van Zyl opened the evening promptly at 8 p.m., welcoming an audience of more than 100 players, coaches, family members, friends, sponsors, and organizers. There was a palpable sense of pride and relief in the air after three intense weeks of competition, with smiles and laughter shared among the guests.

Following the national anthem of Cyprus and the FIDE anthem, the audience was treated to a moving video recap of the tournament’s most memorable moments. The film drew warm applause and, maybe for some, a touch of nostalgia.

The ceremony continued with a pre-recorded message from the President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, who praised the players’ dedication and highlighted the importance of hosting such a prestigious global event on the island.

Viswanathan Anand, five-time World Champion and Deputy President of FIDE, then took the stage to warm applause. In a thoughtful and reflective speech, he spoke about the unmistakable generational shift taking place in the chess world: how a fearless new wave of players is rising, challenging, and standing shoulder to shoulder with the game’s long-established titans.

The mood then shifted to celebration, as traditional Cypriot music and dance performed by a local troupe brought colour, rhythm, and energy to the evening.

This lively interlude set the stage for a series of speeches from key figures, including Criton Tornaritis, President of the Cyprus Chess Federation; Valeriia Avksenteva, Deputy Executive Director of Freedom24; Marinos Lamprou, Mayor of Akamas, and Panayiotis Markou, Director of Sales and Marketing at the St. George’s Hotel & Resort.

It was Markou’s speech, however, that sparked the most emotional response of the evening. As he announced that each room the players had stayed in would be named after them, the audience erupted into a warm and sustained applause.
The ceremony continued with the introduction of the sixteen contenders of the 2026 FIDE Candidates and Women’s Candidates Tournaments, presented by Angelika Valkova. With charm and wit, she engaged some of the players in light-hearted questions, drawing genuine laughter and relaxed, candid responses.

Finally, the prize-giving, the emotional climax of the evening, brought the ceremony to its most meaningful and memorable moment. In the FIDE Women’s Candidates, Zhu Jiner claimed the bronze medal, while Bibisara Assaubayeva took silver. They were joined on the top step of the podium by the winner, Vaishali Rameshbabu.

As the three stood together, the audience rose in a heartfelt standing ovation, acknowledging not just their results but the intensity and brilliance of their performances, with the national anthem of India adding a powerful note to the celebration.

The awards were presented by Valeriia Avksenteva, Deputy Executive Director of Freedom24, and Isai Scheinberg, a long-standing supporter of chess and the first recipient of the FIDE Medal of Merit in the 21st century.

Attention then turned to the Open Candidates. Fabiano Caruana received the bronze medal, while Anish Giri secured silver. They were joined by the tournament’s winner, Javokhir Sindarov, whose achievement was met with enthusiastic applause, while listening to the anthem of Uzbekistan. Sindarov, visibly moved, delivered a short and sincere speech, expressing gratitude and reflecting on his journey.

The awards were presented by Viswanathan Anand, Deputy President of FIDE, and Marina Stylianides, Director of Cap St. Georges and Korantina Homes. The evening concluded on a unique and touching note with a pre-recorded telephone conversation between the President of Uzbekistan and Sindarov.

The full broadcast of the closing ceremony can be watched on the FIDE YouTube channel:

Written by IM Michael Rahal, FIDE press Officer

Photos: Michal Walusza, Niki Riga

Vaishali conquers Women’s Candidates to set up world title showdown against Ju Wenjun

editor_d — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 18:01:14 +0000

Vaishali Rameshbabu will challenge Ju Wenjun for the Women’s World Championship after winning the 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates outright with a score of 8.5/14. In an exciting final round, Vaishali defeated Kateryna Lagno in a magnificent display of technique, while Bibisara Assaubayeva could only manage a draw in her game against Divya Deshmukh.

Javokhir Sindarov, already crowned winner of the FIDE Candidates before the final round, made a quick draw with Wei Yi, allowing both Anish Giri and Fabiano Caruana to move up in the standings with two fantastic final-round victories over Matthias Bluebaum and Andrey Esipenko, respectively.

Let’s take a closer look at the action that unfolded in this exciting afternoon of chess.

The ceremonial opener was performed by Marina Stylianides, Director of Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort by Korantina Homes. She played 1.e4 in the game between Vaishali and Lagno, which would ultimately decide the winner of the FIDE Women’s Candidates.

Before the final round began, there were essentially two clear favourites to win the event, with four others still holding outside chances. Bibisara Assaubayeva needed a must-win game with the Black pieces against Divya Deshmukh.

In reality, she never came close to achieving that goal; in fact, had Divya managed her time better, she might even have found a winning continuation just before the time control. The eventual draw left the door wide open for R. Vaishali: a victory against Kateryna Lagno would secure her the title.

Vaishali rose to the occasion, delivering one of her best games of the tournament. Thanks to excellent home preparation, she won a pawn early in the opening and steadily converted that advantage. Her accuracy was remarkable, especially in the sharp and complex Sicilian Defence Dragon Variation, scoring an impressive 96% with only a single minor inaccuracy.

Speaking at the postgame press conference, Vaishali expressed her delight: “It’s amazing, a dream come true for me. When I lost to Zhu Jiner, everything suddenly opened up, and I’m happy I was able to stay focused in the last two rounds and give my best.”

Vaishali was deeply appreciative of the support she had received throughout her journey: “I would like to thank my parents and family; without them, I wouldn’t be here. Also, my amazing team, who have helped me every day, and all of my sponsors who have supported me for many years. Last year, I lost a lot of rating; apart from the Grand Swiss, my results were poor. So, I really have to thank my team for making this possible.”

She also spoke about the sacrifices her family made over the years for both her and her younger brother, R. Praggnanandhaa: “For a family, it’s a long journey to have two professionals at home. My family had to make many sacrifices in the beginning, but for about 10 years now we’ve had support from sponsors. It’s been a collective family effort over many years, and each of us plays a part.”

In the remaining games, Anna Muzychuk and Zhu Jiner pushed hard for their slim chances of reaching a tiebreak, but ultimately fell short. Both players delivered near-flawless performances, and a draw was agreed on move 56.

In the last game of the afternoon, Aleksandra Goryachkina secured her second consecutive victory, defeating Tan Zhongyi and finishing tied for third place in the final standings.

In the FIDE Candidates Tournament, the tension eased somewhat after Javokhir Sindarov secured overall victory the previous day. Even so, three of the four games were still fiercely contested. Sindarov himself made a very quick draw against Wei Yi, trading off all the pieces and leaving the playing hall in under ten minutes.

Meanwhile, the other games unfolded at a much sharper pace. Praggnanandhaa R and Hikaru Nakamura also finished quickly, blitzing out 33 moves of home preparation before agreeing to a draw. Nakamura later mentioned that he had analyzed the lineup to move 26 earlier that morning.

The remaining two games provided the real excitement. Anish Giri delivered a magnificent victory over Matthias Bluebaum, finishing the tournament with an impressive 8.5/14 – a score that, under different circumstances, might well have been enough to win the event.

At the press conference, Anish Giri expressed great satisfaction with his performance: “I have played a lot of great games here, and I’m very happy with many of my wins, especially against Fabiano Caruana. Today was also a really good game against Matthias Bluebaum.”

He also shed light on his preparation: “I had analysed the position, but I didn’t expect it to appear today. It’s a very bold and risky line, so I was impressed to see Matthias go for it and play in such an attacking style.”

In the final game of the FIDE Candidates Tournament, Fabiano Caruana produced a brilliant victory against Andrey Esipenko, quite possibly one of the finest games of his career.

In a Dragon-style Sicilian Defence, Caruana unleashed a powerful positional exchange sacrifice, instantly recognized by top engines as the best move.

With the stunning 13…Rxc3!, Fabiano gave up the rook to shatter White’s queenside structure. After 14.bxc3, he methodically increased the pressure against his opponent’s weakened, queenside-castled king. If instead 14.Qxe3, then 14…Nxe4 would have given Black strong compensation for the exchange.

The final position, where Esipenko resigned, perfectly illustrates the difficulty of defending such positions.

White’s queen is under attack, while the looming 41…Nc4 checkmate leaves no viable defense.

Final standings

The fan zone was packed to capacity this afternoon, highlighted by a lively Q&A session with tournament winner Javokhir Sindarov. Former Women’s World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk also delighted spectators by providing live commentary during the round.

Several players took time to interact with fans as well, posing for photos and signing autographs, adding to the vibrant atmosphere of the event.

Official website: https://candidates2026.fide.com/

Event photo gallery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/fide/

Written by IM Michael A. Rahal (Cyprus)

Photos: Michal Walusza, Niki Riga

Sindarov storms to Candidates victory

editor_d — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 18:27:34 +0000

Javokhir Sindarov has won the FIDE Candidates Tournament this afternoon with a round to spare and will challenge Gukesh D for the World Championship at the end of the year. His game against Anish Giri ended in a draw, and with one round remaining, Sindarov holds a commanding two-point lead over the rest of the field.

In the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament, Bibisara Assaubayeva defeated Anna Muzychuk to move into a tie for first place with R Vaishali. Tomorrow’s final round will determine whether there will be an outright winner or a tiebreak will be required. Up to six of the eight players still have a theoretical chance to win the event.

Let’s take a closer look at the action.

The ceremonial first move was performed by Isai Scheinberg, a long-standing supporter of chess and the first awardee of the FIDE Medal of Merit in the 21st century.

In the key game of the round, Javokhir Sindarov held Anish Giri to a draw, securing first place and claiming victory in the FIDE Candidates Tournament.

Both players blitzed out the first fourteen moves. Sindarov accepted an isolated d-pawn in the Queen’s Gambit Declined, while Giri was content with a slight edge, enjoying a dynamic position without any real risk. However, Sindarov made excellent use of the rest day and came into the game extremely well prepared.

“We checked and prepared against Anish. At some point, it became boring because I reviewed this line ten times, as he had already played it against Andrey Esipenko. We had a good fight, but after we exchanged queens, I felt I wouldn’t have any problems holding the draw. That proved true: I played quickly, and it was an easy draw,” Sindarov explained in the postgame press conference.

He also added with a touch of humour: “I had zero problems in the rook ending and saw the final line very quickly. I knew I wouldn’t lose that position with one hour and thirty minutes left on the clock – I was just chilling.”

Sindarov expressed deep gratitude to those who supported him throughout the tournament: “A big thank you to everyone who supported me during this long event. Every round was very tough, and the last week was the hardest of my life. I even slept very badly in the final days. I’m very happy it’s over. Many thanks to my family, my coach, my seconds, and everyone who supports me.”

He also praised his coach, Roman Vidonyak: “He analyses all the information from the tournament and points out what I’m doing wrong in certain positions. He gives me advice. I’ve been working with him for more than a year. He has also worked with Nodirbek Yakubboev, and you can see the results of our work. He’s a great person: we play board games together, he’s funny, very supportive, and a hard worker. With him, I’ve improved my chess a lot.”

In the other three games of the round, Wei Yi defeated Andrey Esipenko in a highly complex attacking line of the Petrov Defence. Interestingly, Wei Yi had already employed this line back in 2017 against Yu Yangyi at the Hainan Danzhou GM Tournament, where he also scored a brilliant victory.

At a critical moment, Esipenko sacrificed a piece for a couple of pawns and an attacking initiative. In different circumstances, the gamble might have paid off, but Wei Yi’s defensive precision proved impeccable on this occasion. Both players joined Zachary Saine in the media centre for a joint press conference in which they went over the game.

Despite his young age, Praggnanandhaa R already has extensive experience against Fabiano Caruana, with their head-to-head record standing at 13 games: two wins each and nine draws. The Nimzo-Indian Variation they chose dates back to the 1970s and is known for its deep strategic complexity.

By around move twelve, Praggnanandhaa had already spent over half an hour in a position with more than 300 recorded master games, an unusual situation indeed. This left Caruana with an intriguing choice: follow the main theoretical path or deviate.

He opted for a secondary line and soon generated a powerful attack, ultimately forcing his opponent to sacrifice his queen to avoid immediate checkmate. Caruana appeared to be on the verge of victory, but Praggnanandhaa demonstrated remarkable resilience, finding a defensive resource based on a fortress setup that allowed him to secure a draw.

In the final game of the round, Hikaru Nakamura and Matthias Bluebaum produced an exceptionally accurate encounter, both achieving a near-perfect 99% accuracy score in a solid draw. Facing a classical Queen’s Gambit Declined setup, Nakamura quickly relinquished the bishop pair to reach a standard Carlsbad structure and prepare a minority attack.

Unfazed, Bluebaum responded confidently, simplifying the position and equalizing with ease. By move twenty-five, the game was completely balanced. Although play continued until move forty-one, the evaluation remained unchanged throughout, further reinforcing Bluebaum’s reputation as one of the most solid players on the circuit.

The results of the penultimate round in the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament have left the competition wide open. Six players still have a theoretical chance of winning the event, although only five can qualify for a playoff at the same time.

The leading contenders are Vaishali Rameshbabu, who held Tan Zhongyi to a draw, and Bibisara Assaubayeva, who defeated Anna Muzychuk with an impressive display of home preparation. Both now stand on 7.5 points.

In the final round, Vaishali will have the white pieces against Kateryna Lagno, while Assaubayeva will play Black against Divya Deshmukh. If one of them wins and the other does not, the victor will be crowned champion outright.

However, the situation remains tense. If both leaders draw, Zhu Jiner – currently on 7 points – could still tie them, as she faces Anna Muzychuk in the final round. Moreover, should both leaders lose, players on 6.5 points still retain outside chances.

Among them, Kateryna Lagno, fresh off a victory over Divya Deshmukh, and Aleksandra Goryachkina, who prevailed over Zhu Jiner in a fiercely contested seesaw battle, will be pushing hard to keep their title hopes alive in the final round.

Kateryna Lagno’s technique this afternoon was especially impressive.

Material is equal, but Lagno holds a clear positional advantage thanks to the bishop pair and the potential of a passed d-pawn. What followed was a beautiful and highly instructive manoeuvre:

26.Bf1! – hitting the black queen, 26…Qb7 27.Bb5! attacking the rook. 27…Re7 28. Bc6! Qb8 29. Bf4! Nd6 and finally 30.Qg3!

At this point, Black is completely tied up along both diagonals. Divya Deshmukh found herself in a virtually hopeless position and was forced to resign shortly thereafter, effectively trapped in a middlegame zugzwang.

Standings after Round 13

The Fan-Zone, hosted by FIDE presenter Angelika Valkova, showcased a Masterclass by GM Maurice Ashley, a Meet & Greet with Amruta Makal from Chessbase India and Case Studies from Tournaments by Dr Yevgeny Levanzov.

The final round will be played on April 15 at 3:30 pm. If tiebreaks are needed, they will be disputed on April 16, at 3:00 pm.

Official website: https://candidates2026.fide.com/

Event photo gallery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/fide/

Live daily broadcast with GM commentary: https://www.youtube.com/@FIDE_chess

Written by IM Michael A. Rahal (Cyprus)

Photos: Michal Walusza, Niki Riga

Rising stars and Grandmasters meet at Pafos International Chess Open

editor_d — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 19:24:41 +0000

The 4th Pafos International Open Chess Tournament was officially opened this afternoon at the Attikon & Palia Ilektriki Multiculture Spaces in Pafos, Cyprus, by the mayor of the city, Angelos Onisiforou (pictured below).

Directed by Arkadios Koulaxidis, President of the Pafos Chess Club, and held under the supervision of International Arbiter Tania Karali, the event has attracted 185 players. Participants are divided into three groups and include six Grandmasters, one Women’s Grandmaster, and 20 other titled players representing 29 different countries.

The tournament runs from April 13 to April 19 and offers participants the possibility of taking byes in order to attend the final rounds of the FIDE Candidates Tournament, held just half an hour away. In fact, many participants arrived a few days early and have already taken the opportunity to meet their favourite elite players at the Cap St. Georges Hotel & Resort.

Top seeds in the A-group include 2500+ rated Grandmasters Evgeny Postny (Israel; pictured below) and A. Ra Harikrishnan (India).

The field also features several prominent competitors, including China’s International Master Lu Miaoyi, currently ranked as the world’s No. 3 junior girl. Lu is the reigning Chinese Women’s National Champion and the fourth-youngest girl in chess history to achieve the International Master title. In an interview with FIDE presenter Charlize Van Zyl, she confirmed that she has been closely following the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament and is supporting Zhu Jiner.

One of the youngest participants in the main event is Woman Candidate Master Aida Paunescu, the Women’s Cyprus National Champion, who has already represented her country at the Chess Olympiad Budapest 2024 and is set to do so again in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, this September.

Organised by the Pafos Municipality and the Pafos Chess Club, under the supervision of the Cyprus Chess Federation, the tournament offers a total prize fund exceeding €5,000. The event is also an official side event of the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 and the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026.

Pairings and results (chess-results)

Event photo gallery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/fide/

Written by IM Michael A. Rahal (Cyprus)

Photos: Niki Riga

FIDE Candidates: Sindarov inches closer as all games are drawn; Zhu Jiner joins Vaishali in the lead

editor_d — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 19:17:25 +0000

Javokhir Sindarov chose a cautious approach, drawing his game against Hikaru Nakamura this afternoon. With two rounds remaining, he moves one step closer to winning the Candidates and earning the right to challenge Gukesh for the title. The rest of the games also ended in draws, although Anish Giri came very close to defeating Wei Yi.

In the women’s section, Zhu Jiner made a strong statement by winning over Vaishali with the black pieces in an impressive game, moving into a tie for the lead. Bibisara Assaubayeva also secured a victory over Kateryna Lagno, narrowing the gap, while Anna Muzychuk missed a major opportunity against Aleksandra Goryachkina. With just two rounds to go, the tournament remains wide open.

Let’s take a closer look at the action.

The ceremonial first move was performed by Mr. Manish, High commissioner of India, who opened the game for Vaishali.

Before the round began, all eyes were on the pairing between Javokhir Sindarov, leading the tournament with a two-point advantage, and Hikaru Nakamura. Would Sindarov push for a win?

“Every draw gets him miles nearer to the end goal,” noted commentator Peter Svidler during the live broadcast. The eight-time national champion, drawing on his vast elite experience, correctly anticipated that a cautious approach would prevail.

After trading all the pieces and signing the scoresheets, while the rest of the field were still deep in their openings, Sindarov and Nakamura headed to the media centre to explain their swift and strategically sound draw.

Sindarov was explicit about his strategy: “Yesterday’s game was very important, and today I needed a quick draw to rest and prepare well for tomorrow’s game against Anish Giri during the rest day. I was aiming for forcing draw lines; a fast draw is ideal for my situation. In fact, if I had the chance, I would have offered a draw immediately, but we have to play 40 moves.”

Nakamura also adopted a pragmatic stance: “If the scores were closer, I would have gone for a King’s Indian Defence, but I didn’t see any reason to take risks. I’ve stabilized my performance, but it hasn’t been my best tournament and, realistically, I was never going to win it. I’m just looking forward to the end.”

Still, Sindarov had a contingency plan: “If Hikaru had played something unusual, I was well prepared and ready to fight. But before the game, my coach advised me not to go for a long battle if he stuck to his usual lines. Against Anish, though, I’m ready for a long fight if he wants to push for a win: we’ll see.”

The remaining three games also ended in draws, underlining the remarkably high level of play among all the contenders.

In their encounter, Andrey Esipenko and Praggnanandhaa R entered a sharp and dynamic opening that both players had deeply analysed in their home preparation. Unsurprisingly, the game was handled with near-perfect precision and ultimately steered to a draw, with accuracy levels approaching 99%.

Matthias Bluebaum, meanwhile, stuck to his preferred Carlsbad structure in his game against Fabiano Caruana, introducing a subtle twist with 6.Qc2. As commentator Jan Gustafsson described it, it was “a cunning little waiting move.” The game was another model of precision, reaching an accuracy of 97–98%, with virtually no mistakes from either side.

However, Anish Giri missed a significant opportunity to close the gap with Javokhir Sindarov in his game against Wei Yi. Wei Yi remained faithful to his Candidates preparation with the 2.Nc3 and 3.Bc4 setup, but on this occasion, he was outprepared.

Giri seized the initiative early, winning a pawn and transitioning into a favorable middlegame featuring a strong knight against a weak bishop, yet ultimately was unable to convert the advantage into a full point.

The key moment of the game arose on move 32. With nearly 20 minutes remaining to make eight moves, Anish Giri spent 15 minutes searching for a winning continuation.

The position is extremely tricky. Although Giri has extra material, his king is exposed and White’s passed c-pawn carries significant counterplay. The winning move was, perhaps unsurprisingly, 32…Qe3!. A queen exchange would have effectively decided the game in Black’s favour.

If 33.Qd5+ followed, then 33…Kh8! and after 34.Bg7+ Kxg7 35.Qxg5+ Kf7 36.Qf5+ Ke7 37.Qxh7+ Kd6 38.Qd7+ Kc5!, Black escapes the checks with a decisive advantage.

Instead, Giri chose a different continuation, namely 32…Qc5? which failed to 33.c7! Although Anish retained some chances later in the game, he was ultimately unable to convert. His final opportunity will come in the next round, where he faces a must-win situation with the white pieces against tournament leader Javokhir Sindarov.

With three decisive outcomes and just one draw, the round in the FIDE Women’s Candidates proved even more exciting.

Zhu Jiner scored an impressive victory with the black pieces against Vaishali Rameshbabu in a rich and complex game, joining the tournament lead with only two rounds remaining. Both players joined Zach for the press conference after the game.

Meanwhile, Bibisara Assaubayeva also scored a crucial win over Kateryna Lagno, moving to within half a point of the leaders.

Assaubayeva opted for a fashionable line in the Greco Gambit – generally considered equal for Black – but one she had analyzed deeply in preparation. The game quickly turned highly tactical, and at one stage it seemed as though Lagno might come out on top. However, the momentum eventually shifted, and the full point went to the Kazakh grandmaster.

In her press conference, Assaubayeva expressed both relief and gratitude, particularly for her mother’s support: “I am happy that I won today. It’s my first win against Lagno in classical chess, although it wasn’t my best game. It was a difficult position to play because there were many weaknesses, and it wasn’t easy to understand what to do. I missed some tactics, but I had time to think and found some practical ideas to keep fighting. At some point it was at least a draw, and then I found a way to win.”

Anna Muzychuk missed a golden opportunity to join Vaishali Rameshbabu and Zhu Jiner in the lead. She played an excellent game against Aleksandra Goryachkina, an opponent she knows well, but with time running low, things went wrong at the critical moment.

The resulting endgame was highly instructive. As a general rule, when the king is close to the pawns, the side with the rook should be winning, but converting such positions is far from simple.

The correct plan began with 65.Kg4!. After 65…Kh2 (65…h3 fails to 66.Ra2+), the only winning move, difficult to find under time pressure, was 66.Rh5!. Following 66…g2 67.Rxh4+ Kg1 68.Kg3 Kf1, White continues with 69.Rf4+! Kg1 70.Rf5! (not 70.Rf2? Kh1!, which leads to stalemate). Then 71.Rh5+ Kg1 72.Rh2 wins the pawn and, ultimately, the game. A beautiful but highly nontrivial sequence.

Instead, Anna played 65.Ra2+? but after 65…Kh3! 66.Ra3 Kh2 Aleksandra escaped with a draw.

Finally, Divya Deshmukh introduced a novelty with 7.c4 in the Konstantinopolsky Variation of the King’s Knight Opening against Tan Zhongyi. According to Peter Svidler, this setup is gaining popularity despite bending classical opening principles, in this case, conceding control of the d4 square.

Divya held the initiative for much of the game, but Tan defended resourcefully and eventually turned the tables in the endgame. In a model example of same-colored bishops combined with weak-square play, the former Women’s World Champion demonstrated excellent technique to capitalize and secure her first win of the tournament.

Standings after Round 12

The Fan-Zone featured a trivia quiz with IM Sagar Shah, joined by GM Emil Sutovsky, followed by some live-commentary of the round with GM Jan Smeets, second of Anish Giri in Cyprus. Both events were hosted by FIDE presenter Angelika Valkova.

Tomorrow is the final free day. Round thirteen will be played on April 14, at 3:30 pm (Cyprus).

Official website: https://candidates2026.fide.com/

Event photo gallery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/fide/

Live daily broadcast with GM commentary: https://www.youtube.com/@FIDE_chess

Written by IM Michael A. Rahal (Cyprus)

Photos: Michal Walusza, Niki Riga

FIDE Candidates: Sindarov preserves lead as Vaishali takes command

editor_d — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 18:43:50 +0000

Javokhir Sindarov continues to dominate the FIDE Candidates after Round 11, where all games ended in draws. With only three rounds remaining, he still holds a two-point lead. If Sindarov maintains stability, he’s in an excellent position to win the tournament and secure a shot at the world title.

In the women’s section, Vaishali R scored a crucial win with the black pieces over Aleksandra Goryachkina, moving a full point ahead of the field and taking clear control heading into the final rounds.

Let’s take a closer look at this afternoon’s eleventh round action in the playing venue at the Cap St. Georges Hotel & Resort, here in Cyprus.

Of course, the key game of the afternoon was the encounter between Fabiano Caruana and Javokhir Sindarov. Caruana essayed a relatively new idea – 11.Be3 in the mainstream Catalan Opening – a move that has already been played a couple of times by Nihal Sarin.

“I didn’t really prepare for the last two games; I just played something safe. But then I got a bit of pressure and some serious winning chances at one point,” Caruana explained after the game. The idea involves a pawn sacrifice in exchange for long-term compensation. “We know that Caruana’s preparation runs deep!” exclaimed commentator Jan Gustafsson during the live broadcast.

Co-commentator Peter Svidler offered a different perspective: “It’s not played with the intention of proving an advantage, but rather to reach a strange new position that the opponent may not yet have seen.”

Sindarov, however, defended excellently, returning the pawn at the precise moment and securing an important draw for his tournament chances. “I tried to make an impact in the tournament, but he defended very well,” Caruana concluded.

The other three games also ended in draws, although there were missed opportunities along the way. The game between Hikaru Nakamura and Wei Yi was a solid encounter, with both players blitzing out the classical mainline of the Catalan Opening.

Sensing that his opponent was deeply prepared, Nakamura opted to force a threefold repetition at an early stage, though not before spending nearly forty minutes weighing his options. In his post-game interview, Nakamura explained his decision-making process and also shared some thoughts on his upcoming clash with the tournament leader.

In an attempt to catch the leader, Anish Giri tried to improve on a previous game by Andrey Esipenko earlier in the tournament, opting for 11.Qa4 instead of 11.Rc1. Esipenko had already equalized comfortably in that earlier encounter, and interestingly, the same move had also appeared in game fourteen of the Fischer–Spassky World Championship match.

However, trying to outplay Esipenko in an isolated pawn–minor piece endgame is a notoriously difficult task. His defensive technique was once again impeccable, and Giri was unable to generate any real winning chances. A draw was agreed on move 43, a result that can be considered a model example of defensive play in this type of structure.

The player who will likely regret the afternoon most is no doubt R Praggnanandhaa, who reached a winning position against Matthias Bluebaum but ultimately failed to convert.

Praggnanandhaa had already missed a strong continuation a few moves earlier, but with only five minutes left for six moves, the critical moment arose.

He played 34.Qf3, activating his queen with threats against f7. However, after 34…d4!, Black’s coordination suddenly held everything together; the queen on b3 defends f7, and the initiative faded, allowing the game to simplify into a draw.

Instead, the decisive continuation was: 34.Rxf7! with strong attacking ideas, including the threat of 35.Qxg5 and mating patterns on g7.

The key line continues: 34…Rxe5 35.Qa7!! Bd3 (covering h7) 36.Rxg7+ Kh8 37.Rc7 (or 37.Rf7) with decisive threats such as 38.Rc8 and 38.Qd4, leading to a winning attack.

In the FIDE Women’s Candidates, Vaishali Rameshbabu took a major step toward winning the tournament by defeating Aleksandra Goryachkina with the Black pieces.

In their game featuring a London System, Vaishali equalised comfortably, and the position was heading toward a draw when Goryachkina missed a crucial tactical resource spotted by her opponent.

Most moves would have preserved equality (one of them is 30. a4), but 30.Be2–c4?? proved to be the decisive mistake.

Under time pressure, Goryachkina failed to notice that her rook was becoming dangerously trapped. After 30…Bc6!, White had no way to prevent …Nd7, which would win the trapped rook.

Goryachkina tried 31.Rxc5, but after 31…b6, she was forced to give up the exchange and resigned a few moves later. In her post-game press conference, Vaishali reflected on the game and her improved standing in the tournament.

The other three games also ended in draws. Kateryna Lagno and Anna Muzychuk have played many games against each other, with Muzychuk holding a slight plus score in their head-to-head. This time, Anna switched from the Grünfeld Defence to a Queen’s Indian / Bogo-Indian hybrid.

Although the position out of the opening was slightly more pleasant for White, Muzychuk held the balance comfortably, finishing with an impressive 98% accuracy.

The game between Zhu Jiner and Divya Deshmukh was also very well played by both sides. Zhu Jiner spent a long time in the opening in a Maroczy Bind sideline against the Sicilian, but Divya had clearly done her preparation and played quickly, reaching a slightly inferior but fully defendable position. She even had a small chance to press in the endgame, but the game ultimately petered out into a draw.

Finally, Tan Zhongyi came closest to scoring a full point against Bibisara Assaubayeva. As commentator Peter Svidler noted, Tan has been having a difficult tournament so far, with three losses and no wins. In this game, she arrived well-prepared, played confidently, and put her opponent under pressure.

However, just when a draw in the rook endgame should have (and ultimately did) arise, Assaubayeva made a single inaccuracy that briefly allowed winning chances. Unfortunately for Tan, those chances were not converted, and the game still ended in a draw.

Standings after Round 11

This afternoon’s fan-zone activities included a Q&A session with Viswanathan Anand, as well as a masterclass led by Harshit Raja.

In addition, several players, including Divya Deshmukh, delighted fans with their presence, signing chessboards, T-shirts, and taking part in photo opportunities.

The twelfth round will commence on April 12, at 3:30 pm (Cyprus).

Official website: https://candidates2026.fide.com/

Event photo gallery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/fide/

Live daily broadcast with GM commentary: https://www.youtube.com/@FIDE_chess

Written by IM Michael A. Rahal (Cyprus)

Photos: Michal Walusza, Niki Riga

Pacers vs sitters: Two thinking styles at the FIDE Candidates Tournament

editor_d — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:13:33 +0000

By IM Michael A. Rahal, FIDE Press Officer (Cyprus)

Over the past week at the FIDE Candidates Tournament, I have been closely following the players during their games, paying particular attention to their demeanour at the board. As top professionals, they naturally adhere to best practices: most of their time is spent analysing positions at the board, both on their own move and their opponent’s, especially in time trouble, when the tension in the room becomes palpable.

Nonetheless, I believe the players can broadly be divided into two categories: the “pacers” and the “sitters.”

The pacer, often referred to as a “walker” or “restless type,” tends to think away from the board. These players reset mentally between moves and stay physically relaxed through movement. This approach is quite common at high-level tournaments, and many strong players rely on it.

In contrast, the sitter, or “board-focused player,” is someone who appears “locked in” or “glued” to the board. Sitters calculate continuously while maintaining visual contact with the position, rarely stepping away.

The most striking example of a pacer is Javokhir Sindarov. The tournament leader has a very distinctive way of relaxing between moves, confidently strolling up and down the playing hall, seemingly without a care in the world.

Other notable pacers include Anish Giri, often seen with his hands interlocked behind his back, occasionally idly twirling a captured piece. In fact, he once admitted in an interview that he has accidentally taken pieces back to his hotel room in his pocket.

Fabiano Caruana has his own variation of this habit: he frequently stands in front of the large screen displaying all the games in progress. Watching him there, one might wonder whether he is analysing his current position – or already preparing an opening for a future opponent!

His teammate Hikaru Nakamura is intensely competitive in his pursuit of victory, while appearing outwardly calm or even detached! His mood during the game actually depends a lot on the situation on the board.

On the other side of the spectrum, the archetypal sitter is none other than Wei Yi. His focus is extraordinary: he hardly moves at all, except occasionally to clean his glasses. One might even speculate whether he practices something akin to Jingzuo, or “quiet sitting,” a form of seated meditation and self-cultivation that became prominent during the Song dynasty.

This practice was used by scholars to cultivate moral character and achieve a calm, focused mind in daily life. I would say that Praggnanandhaa also adheres to this stoic, calm way of approaching the game – in fact, he attended the Inner Engineering Program at the Isha Yoga Center in 2022, and asked Indian guru Sadhguru a question about handling tension during a tight game.

Other regular sitters include Matthias Bluebaum and Andrey Esipenko, although I have noticed that Esipenko occasionally walks around early in the game, particularly when he has surprised his opponent in the opening.

Ultimately, neither style is inherently superior at the highest level; it is largely a matter of temperament and personal thinking style. Some players calculate more effectively away from the board, while others rely on constant visual engagement with the position. That said, Sindarov’s outstanding performance might even suggest that the pacer’s approach has its advantages.

Photos: FIDE / Michal Walusza, Yoav Nis

Sindarov takes command with stunning win over Praggnanandhaa; Women’s Candidates tightens as Assaubayeva and Goryachkina strike

editor_d — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 18:50:11 +0000

Javokhir Sindarov took a major step toward glory this afternoon at the Cyprus FIDE Candidates, defeating R Praggnanandhaa in a striking game. With only four rounds remaining, Sindarov now leads the field by a full two points.

In the Women’s Tournament, Vaishali remains in the lead, but Bibisara Assaubayeva and Aleksandra Goryachkina have re-entered contention following their Round 10 victories.

Let’s take a closer look at this afternoon’s action in the playing venue at the Cap St. Georges Hotel & Resort, here in Cyprus.

This afternoon, a true legend of the game, Boris Gelfand, performed the ceremonial first move on Javokhir Sindarov’s board. Gelfand, the winner of the 2009 FIDE World Cup and the 2011 Candidates Tournament, was also the runner-up in the 2012 World Chess Championship.

In a delightful touch, he was joined in the frame by his 2012 opponent, Viswanathan Anand, the five-time World Champion and current FIDE Deputy President.

As the players settled in and adjusted their pieces at the start of the round, commentators Jan Gustafsson and Peter Svidler discussed possible outcomes. Svidler summed it up perfectly: “I think it will be more of the same. Javokhir will continue to be very comfortable at the top, and absolute mayhem in the women’s event, which continues day in, day out. Predicting that tournament has really become a fool’s errand.”

The resemblance between his prediction and what actually transpired was uncanny!

Sindarov chose to challenge his opponent’s preparation in a highly complex and dangerous line of the Queen’s Gambit. Reflecting on the decision afterward, he admitted: “I went into a very tricky position. Probably it wasn’t such a good idea to play like this in my situation.”

Praggnanandhaa managed to win a piece in exchange for two pawns, but Sindarov seized the initiative and launched a dangerous attack. The critical moment arose on move 22: although Black had a piece for two pawns, his king was exposed.

As Sindarov demonstrated after the game, Black’s best chance was 22…Be6. After 23. Rf6 Qh7! 24. Qxh7+ Kxh7 25. Rxh6+ Kxh6 26. Rf6+ Kg5 27. Rxe6 Rd8!, White would retain only a slight edge, with a draw the most likely outcome.

Instead, Praggnanandhaa played 22…Bd7?, and after 23. Rf7! Qxf7 24. Rxf7 Kxf7 25. Qf4+! Kg7 26. Qg5+! Kh7 27. Qe7+!, Sindarov decisively picked up the bishop on d7 and converted the position with ease.

In the post-game press conference, Sindarov remained composed: “I think I am very close, but I still have two important games with Black. I’m just trying not to think about it and to play good chess as always.” He also shared his coach’s advice: “If I deserve the title, I will get it, so don’t think about the result. And if I don’t, we will keep working toward it.”

Beating Praggnanandhaa is no small feat. Praggnanandhaa is known for his resilience and preparation, so a decisive win suggests Sindarov is not just leading, but doing so with real authority.

A two-point lead with four rounds remaining is massive in a Candidates tournament; at this level, even a one-point cushion is often decisive. If Sindarov maintains composure, he’s now the clear favourite to win the event and potentially earn a shot at the World Championship.

The other three games ended in remarkably solid draws, with accuracy levels nearing 98% and virtually no mistakes: an afternoon of near-perfect chess.

Anish Giri and Hikaru Nakamura opted for a fashionable Exchange Variation of the Queen’s Gambit. Giri managed to secure a slight initiative, but Nakamura defended precisely and neutralized any real chances.

Andrey Esipenko failed to generate anything tangible with White against Matthias Bluebaum’s reliable Petroff Defence. After a series of exchanges, the game quickly simplified into a symmetrical position, and a draw was agreed without much fuss.

In the third game, Wei Yi tested the 4.Nge2 line against Fabiano Caruana’s French Winawer. Although Wei Yi obtained a slight edge thanks to the bishop pair in a queenless middlegame, Caruana’s defensive technique was impeccable, and the point was eventually shared.

On the women’s side, the tournament remains far more dynamic. Vaishali’s hold on the lead is impressive, but with Bibisara Assaubayeva and Aleksandra Goryachkina closing in after their victories, the race is very much alive.

Goryachkina, in particular, brings a wealth of top-level experience – including a Women’s World Championship match – and is always a serious threat in the closing stages of an event.

Vaishali comfortably held Anna Muzychuk to a draw with the black pieces, in a game that featured flawless play from both sides, without a single inaccuracy.

Meanwhile, Kateryna Lagno did manage to obtain a slight edge against Tan Zhongyi, who surprised with the offbeat O’Kelly Sicilian. However, Lagno misplayed a tricky endgame, allowing Tan Zhongyi to once again demonstrate her excellent defensive technique and secure the draw.

The two games producing decisive outcomes followed very different trajectories. The encounter between Divya Deshmukh and Aleksandra Goryachkina had been balanced for most of the game, but around move sixty, already under time pressure, Divya committed a critical endgame mistake and paid a heavy price.

Goryachkina was understandably delighted to score her first win of the tournament and was all smiles in her interview afterward: “I can’t remember a tournament in which I haven’t won at least one game in the first nine rounds. I’m happy to be winning again,” she said.

Another key result of the day was Bibisara Assaubayeva’s victory over Zhu Jiner, who had started the round as co-leader. The game remained roughly balanced for a long time, but as the time control approached, Zhu Jiner chose an inaccurate plan, and her position quickly began to deteriorate.

After a relatively quiet stretch, Assaubayeva now appears to be regaining momentum and could well emerge as a serious late contender if she manages to string together a few more wins.

Standings after Round 10

Boris Gelfand delighted fans this afternoon with a simultaneous exhibition, followed by an engaging Q&A session. He delivered an outstanding performance, scoring 20 wins, 2 draws, and just a single loss.

As a charming footnote, Gelfand’s son was also among the participants in the simul, adding a personal touch to the event.

Gelfand also spent a few minutes with Charlize van Zyl, giving his thoughts on the event.

Tomorrow is the third rest day and the eleventh round will commence on April 11, at 3:30 pm (Cyprus).

Official website: https://candidates2026.fide.com/

Event photo gallery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/fide/

Live daily broadcast with GM commentary: https://www.youtube.com/@FIDE_chess

Written by IM Michael A. Rahal (Cyprus)

Photos: Michal Walusza, Niki Riga

FIDE Candidates: Sindarov stumbles, Giri strikes as race tightens

editor_d — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 19:01:27 +0000

Javokhir Sindarov missed a clear opportunity to secure victory this afternoon against Matthias Bluebaum, allowing Anish Giri to narrow the gap after defeating Fabiano Caruana with the black pieces. With five rounds remaining, Sindarov still leads by 1.5 points.

Vaishali and Zhu Jiner share the lead at the FIDE Women’s Candidates with 5.5/9, following victories over Divya Deshmukh and Kateryna Lagno, respectively. Meanwhile, Anna Muzychuk squandered a highly promising endgame, slipping behind the leaders.

Let’s take a closer look at how the afternoon unfolded.

The ceremonial opening move was played by Paris Klerides, General Secretary of the Cyprus Chess Federation and FIDE Delegate for Cyprus, who made the symbolic 1.e4 on behalf of Matthias Bluebaum. However, Bluebaum opted for 1.d4 instead. Javokhir Sindarov replied with a very rare line – the Harrwitz Attack in the Queen’s Gambit Declined.

Commentator Jan Gustafsson was surprised: “I have never seen this move order before, so I suspect that maybe Bluebaum hasn’t either.” Very soon, both players found themselves in uncharted territory, reaching a position with opposite-side castling and no significant master games for reference.

Position of the day

The critical moment arose after White played 24.bxa4. In this position, Sindarov would have had excellent winning chances with 24…Qb7 or even 24…Qa5, keeping the queens on the board and continuing the attack. Instead, he chose 24…Bxa4?, allowing a queen exchange and easing the pressure.

In the post-game press conference, Sindarov admitted his miscalculation: “It was an interesting game. I had a big advantage, but I missed his resource 29.f5 in the endgame. I thought I was winning a pawn, but I should have kept the queens on the board; I would have had a very strong attack.”

Bluebaum, for his part, acknowledged his good fortune: “I played like a clown and wanted to resign after 22…a4, but he let me escape into the endgame and secure a draw.”

During the afternoon an unexpected visitor made an appearance in the playing hall and then did a spot of commentary in the analysis booth.

With this result, both Fabiano Caruana and Anish Giri had a chance to close the gap, and they didn’t disappoint. Having competed in elite tournaments for over fifteen years, it is no surprise that they have faced each other many times, with a narrow 7–4 edge in favor of the Dutch number one.

In a classical Italian Game, with Giri leaving his trusted Najdorf in the “drawing box” for this encounter, both players followed well-established theoretical lines, reaching a complex middlegame with a closed pawn structure and roughly an hour remaining on the clock for each.

The position remained approximately balanced, though slightly easier to handle for Giri, when Caruana committed a serious blunder on move 37, very near the time control and under mounting pressure. As he transitioned toward the endgame, he activated his king, inadvertently allowing a subtle tactical shot that Giri spotted immediately.

Giri uncorked the fantastic 42…f5+! and after 43.exf5 Kh6!! threatening 44…Bh5 mate. Caruana resigned as 44.fxg6 fails to 44…e4! followed by 45…Qg5 mate or 44.Kf3 e4!+ 45.Qxe4 Bh5+ 46.Kf4 Qg5 checkmate.

The other two games also ended in draws, although R Praggnanandhaa let a winning position slip against Wei Yi and was clearly disappointed after the game.

The last game to finish, between Hikaru Nakamura and Andrey Esipenko, was a 92-move draw. The position remained balanced for most of the game, although Nakamura eventually managed to win a pawn.

Peter Svidler quickly captured the essence of Black’s opening choice: “It’s a pretty dry position in which Andrey is basically saying that he doesn’t mind being strategically slightly worse because he will make a draw.”

In the end, Esipenko demonstrated excellent rook endgame technique, holding the draw without any real difficulty using the method of frontal checks. It is a must-see game for anyone looking to improve their technique in this type of ending.

In the Women’s FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament, R Vaishali and Zhu Jiner broke away from the five-way tie with important victories.

Vaishali, now scoring 3.5 out of her last four games, defeated Divya Deshmukh, who blundered a tactical sequence in the middlegame that left her without adequate defense. In her post-game interview, Vaishali said she was very happy with her performance, while Divya admitted that her middlegame play had been inaccurate, pointing in particular to 17…Nd7, where she overlooked the ensuing ideas involving Qd4.

Meanwhile, Zhu Jiner employed the fashionable setup with 1.Nf3, 2.e3, and 3.b3 with White. Kateryna Lagno responded in classical style, seizing central space with pawns and the bishop pair in exchange for a long-term weakness around her castled king.

After the queens were exchanged, Lagno blundered a pawn in the endgame, and Zhu Jiner converted her advantage with excellent technique.

FIDE’s presenter Charlize van Zyl caught up with the winner after the game.

The other two games ended peacefully. Bibisara Assaubayeva introduced a very interesting idea on move three in the Rossolimo Attack against Aleksandra Goryachkina with 3…Nd4. Peter Svidler was surprised: “This is a move that, honestly, I did not think was playable in this particular setup, but I guess everything is these days.”

However, the surprise value of a move, combined with a few focused hours of engine preparation, can work wonders in a single game. Jan Gustafsson noted: “Goryachkina did look very shaky yesterday (against Kateryna Lagno) when faced with a surprise.”

In this afternoon’s encounter, however, Goryachkina chose not to take risks, opting instead for a solid approach with mass exchanges leading to an equal endgame.

In the final game, both players – Tan Zhongyi and Anna Muzychuk – were coming off losses the previous day and needed a win, albeit for different reasons. Facing a sharp and tactical Grünfeld Defence, Tan opted for an early queen exchange, aiming to capitalize on the bishop pair in the endgame.

Muzychuk, however, established an excellent blockade with her knight and maintained a superior pawn structure, eventually achieving a significant advantage in the endgame. Although engines suggest there may have been a winning path, it was far from straightforward. Despite being a pawn down, Tan Zhongyi managed to hold the draw in an opposite-coloured bishop ending.

With the sun shining, this afternoon’s fan zone moved outdoors. Former Women’s World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk hosted a chess quiz, while Ivan Cheparinov entertained fans with live commentary on the games in progress.

In addition, several players stayed on after their games to offer photo opportunities and sign autographs.

Standings after Round 9

The tenth round will commence on April 9, at 3:30 pm (Cyprus).

Official website: https://candidates2026.fide.com/

Event photo gallery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/fide/

Live daily broadcast with GM commentary: https://www.youtube.com/@FIDE_chess

Written by IM Michael A. Rahal (Cyprus)

Photos: Michal Walusza, Niki Riga