{"id":44655,"date":"2026-03-31T17:56:29","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T17:56:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/?p=44655"},"modified":"2026-04-01T18:16:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T18:16:07","slug":"caruana-and-sindarov-pull-ahead-of-the-field-in-the-fide-candidates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/caruana-and-sindarov-pull-ahead-of-the-field-in-the-fide-candidates\/","title":{"rendered":"Caruana, Sindarov, Lagno, and Assaubayeva steal the spotlight at Cap St Georges"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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With impressive wins over Wei Yi and R Praggnanandhaa, both Fabiano Caruana and Javokhir Sindarov surged ahead of the field, staking an early claim in the tournament race.<\/p>

On 2.5 out of 3 points, they already lead by a full point over the rest, a significant margin, even though eleven rounds remain.<\/p>

The round marked a sharp contrast to the previous day\u2019s quiet play, which saw eight draws. This time, the players delivered fighting chess filled with dynamic opportunities and high-level execution.<\/p>

In the women\u2019s event, Kateryna Lagno scored a crucial victory over Tan Zhongyi in a chaotic encounter, propelling her into the tournament lead. She is joined at the top by Bibisara Assaubayeva, who defeated Zhu Jiner using an aggressive opening approach.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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This afternoon\u2019s action unfolded at the luxurious Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort, providing a stunning backdrop for high-stakes chess.<\/p>

Two ceremonial first moves added a touch of prestige to the round. Michael Khodarkovsky (FIDE Vice President) had the honour of opening the game for Fabiano Caruana in his clash against Wei Yi.<\/p>

Meanwhile, Dana Reizniece (Deputy Chair of FIDE Management Board) made the symbolic first move in the matchup between R Vaishali and Anna Muzychuk.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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While the clashes between Matthias Bluebaum vs Andrey Esipenko and Hikaru Nakamura vs Anish Giri remained completely balanced \u2013 both played with astonishing accuracy levels of 98\u201399% \u2013 the real fireworks in the \u00a0\u00a0FIDE Candidates Tournament came from the other two boards.<\/p>

A decisive miniature at this level is an exceptionally rare occurrence, but today Fabiano Caruana delivered exactly that, surging into the tournament lead with a crushing victory over Wei Yi.<\/p>

Opting for a highly ambitious and risky opening, Wei Yi sacrificed two full pawns in exchange for rapid development and attacking chances. Caruana, however, rose to the challenge and accepted the complications.<\/p>

Reflecting on the critical moments after the game, Caruana admitted: \u201cI was tricked with the move order, I got something I didn\u2019t want and then I had to decide between different lines. I knew that the plan Qa4\u2013Ng5 existed but I couldn’t remember many details. The pawn sacrifices were unexpected, but I had to go for it.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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However, Wei Yi admitted that things had already gone wrong early on: \u201cI was out of the book after Qb5, but then I played terribly and blundered a piece.\u201d<\/p>

\"\"<\/p>

Black was already under significant pressure, but the move 17\u2026Ne5?<\/strong> turned a difficult position into a lost one (better was 17\u2026Nf6 although, after 18.d4! Black\u2019s position is no fun). After 18.Nxe5 Rxe5 19.Nd1!<\/strong>, White\u2019s idea becomes crystal clear: there is simply no way to save the trapped bishop on h3.\u00a0 Faced with inevitable material loss and a collapsing position, Wei Yi had no choice but to resign.<\/p>

The other standout performer of the day was Javokhir Sindarov, who secured a crucial victory with the black pieces against Praggnanandhaa.\u00a0 Their encounter quickly spiralled into chaos, as Sindarov sacrificed a piece in the opening for two pawns and long-term initiative.<\/p>

While the soundness of the idea may be debatable, it created a highly complex and double-edged position that proved difficult for both players to navigate. Explaining his decision, Sindarov noted: \u201cIf I don’t take the pawn on b4 then I would be in trouble, so I thought it was the best option and that I would find something afterwards.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Despite the imbalance, Praggnanandhaa demonstrated remarkable resilience and managed to keep the position under control, at least until the clock became a factor. As time trouble set in, Sindarov seized his moment, capitalizing on the mounting pressure to convert the game and claim the full point.<\/p>

In the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament, the games between Vaishali and Anna Muzychuk, as well as Aleksandra Goryachkina versus Divya Deshmukh, both ended in draws, but the nature of those draws could not have been more different.<\/p>

The Vaishali \u2013 Muzychuk encounter was a model of precision: highly accurate, deeply technical, and virtually error-free from start to finish.\u00a0 By contrast, the game between Goryachkina and Divya was a dramatic struggle.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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After more than fifty moves of relentless pressure in a typical Goryachkina grind, Aleksandra managed to secure an extra pawn and transition into a theoretically winning rook endgame. However, she ultimately erred and failed unable to convert her advantage, allowing Divya Deshmukh to escape \u201cby the skin of her teeth.\u201d<\/p>

The result served as yet another reminder of the old chess adage that \u201call rook endings are drawn.\u201d It is worth noting that, in the final phase of the game, Goryachkina was also under significant time pressure.<\/p>

The two winners of the day in the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament were Kateryna Lagno and Bibisara Assaubayeva, who now share the lead.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The encounter between Tan Zhongyi and Lagno was a wildly chaotic battle, with the advantage swinging multiple times. True to the old saying \u201cwhoever makes the penultimate mistake wins\u201d it was Lagno who held her nerve at the critical moment and delivered a stunning finish.<\/p>

\"\"<\/pre>
After 42.Qxd5?<\/strong> (better was42.Qxh5 giving up the queen but emerging slightly better) \u00a0a brilliant, must-see combination followed. Lagno played 42\u2026Nf4!<\/strong>, and after 43.exf4 Rh6+ 44.Kg3 Qd3+!<\/strong>, and White\u2019s position collapsed.<\/p>
The key point is that White cannot interpose with the knight on f3 due to the hanging queen on d5. In the game, 45.Qf3<\/strong> was tried, but it runs into the spectacular decisive blow 45\u2026g4!!<\/strong> blow. After 46.Qxd3 Rh3#, it is checkmate.<\/p>
Reflecting on the dramatic turnaround, Lagno admitted in the press conference: \u201cI was so disappointed that I even wanted to resign, but then I decided to fight on at least to move forty. However, I do have to improve my time management though.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The game between Zhu Jiner and Bibisara Assaubayeva was yet another highly complex and tactical battle, one that, in truth, could have gone either way. Assaubayeva once again demonstrated her strength as a counter-attacker. The moment she sensed an opportunity to turn the tables and target Zhu Jiner\u2019s king, she launched a direct and energetic counteroffensive.<\/p>
To her credit, Zhu managed to sidestep immediate mating threats and steer the game into an opposite-coloured bishop endgame, positions that are famously drawish, even when one side holds an extra pawn or two.\u00a0 This time around, however, the usual rules did not apply. Assaubayeva maintained the initiative and converted her advantage with impressive precision, ultimately mopping up the endgame without giving her opponent any real chances to escape.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The fan zone continues to be a major attraction for spectators attending the event each afternoon. Victor Bologan, a former 2700+ rated player and current Executive Director of the FIDE Management Board, provided plenty of entertainment with a mid-afternoon simultaneous exhibition.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Facing fourteen opponents at once, Bologan delivered an impressive performance, finishing with eleven wins, two draws, and just one loss, much to the delight of the fans in attendance.<\/p>
Standings after Round 3<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The 4th round will commence on April 1, at 3:30 pm (Cyprus).<\/p>
Round 4 pairings – FIDE Candidates Tournament:<\/strong><\/p>
Andrey Esipenko \u2013 Anish Giri
Wei Yi \u2013 Hikaru Nakamura
Javokhir Sindarov \u2013 Fabiano Caruana
Matthias Bluebaum \u2013 Praggnanandhaa R<\/p>
Round 4 pairings – FIDE Women\u2019s Candidates Tournament:<\/strong><\/p>
Anna Muzychuk \u2013 Kateryna Lagno
Bibisara Assaubayeva \u2013 Tan Zhongyi
Divya Deshmukh \u2013 Zhu Jiner
Vaishali Rameshbabu \u2013 Aleksandra Goryachkina<\/p>
Official website: https:\/\/candidates2026.fide.com\/<\/a><\/strong><\/p>
Event photo gallery: https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/fide\/<\/a><\/strong><\/p>
Live daily broadcast with GM commentary: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@FIDE_chess<\/a><\/strong><\/p>
Written by IM Michael A. Rahal (Cyprus)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>
Photos: Michal Walusza, Yoav Nis<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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With impressive wins over Wei Yi and R Praggnanandhaa, both Fabiano Caruana and Javokhir Sindarov surged ahead of the field, staking an early claim in the tournament race. On 2.5 out of 3 points, they already lead by a full point over the rest, a significant margin, even though eleven rounds remain. The round marked a sharp contrast to the previous day\u2019s quiet play, which saw eight draws. This time, the players delivered fighting chess filled with dynamic opportunities and high-level execution. In the women\u2019s event, Kateryna Lagno scored a crucial victory over Tan Zhongyi in a chaotic encounter, propelling her into the tournament lead. She is joined at the top by Bibisara Assaubayeva, who defeated Zhu Jiner using an aggressive opening approach. This afternoon\u2019s action unfolded at the luxurious Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort, providing a stunning backdrop for high-stakes chess. Two ceremonial first moves added a touch of prestige to the round. Michael Khodarkovsky (FIDE Vice President) had the honour of opening the game for Fabiano Caruana in his clash against Wei Yi. Meanwhile, Dana Reizniece (Deputy Chair of FIDE Management Board) made the symbolic first move in the matchup between R Vaishali and Anna Muzychuk. While the clashes between Matthias Bluebaum vs Andrey Esipenko and Hikaru Nakamura vs Anish Giri remained completely balanced \u2013 both played with astonishing accuracy levels of 98\u201399% \u2013 the real fireworks in the \u00a0\u00a0FIDE Candidates Tournament came from the other two boards. A decisive miniature at this level is an exceptionally rare occurrence, but today Fabiano Caruana delivered exactly that, surging into the tournament lead with a crushing victory over Wei Yi. Opting for a highly ambitious and risky opening, Wei Yi sacrificed two full pawns in exchange for rapid development and attacking chances. Caruana, however, rose to the challenge and accepted the complications. Reflecting on the critical moments after the game, Caruana admitted: \u201cI was tricked with the move order, I got something I didn\u2019t want and then I had to decide between different lines. I knew that the plan Qa4\u2013Ng5 existed but I couldn’t remember many details. The pawn sacrifices were unexpected, but I had to go for it.\u201d https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=89bYobRC8K4 However, Wei Yi admitted that things had already gone wrong early on: \u201cI was out of the book after Qb5, but then I played terribly and blundered a piece.\u201d Black was already under significant pressure, but the move 17\u2026Ne5? turned a difficult position into a lost one (better was 17\u2026Nf6 although, after 18.d4! Black\u2019s position is no fun). After 18.Nxe5 Rxe5 19.Nd1!, White\u2019s idea becomes crystal clear: there is simply no way to save the trapped bishop on h3.\u00a0 Faced with inevitable material loss and a collapsing position, Wei Yi had no choice but to resign. The other standout performer of the day was Javokhir Sindarov, who secured a crucial victory with the black pieces against Praggnanandhaa.\u00a0 Their encounter quickly spiralled into chaos, as Sindarov sacrificed a piece in the opening for two pawns and long-term initiative. While the soundness of the idea may be debatable, it created a highly complex and double-edged position that proved difficult for both players to navigate. Explaining his decision, Sindarov noted: \u201cIf I don’t take the pawn on b4 then I would be in trouble, so I thought it was the best option and that I would find something afterwards.\u201d Despite the imbalance, Praggnanandhaa demonstrated remarkable resilience and managed to keep the position under control, at least until the clock became a factor. As time trouble set in, Sindarov seized his moment, capitalizing on the mounting pressure to convert the game and claim the full point. In the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament, the games between Vaishali and Anna Muzychuk, as well as Aleksandra Goryachkina versus Divya Deshmukh, both ended in draws, but the nature of those draws could not have been more different. The Vaishali \u2013 Muzychuk encounter was a model of precision: highly accurate, deeply technical, and virtually error-free from start to finish.\u00a0 By contrast, the game between Goryachkina and Divya was a dramatic struggle. After more than fifty moves of relentless pressure in a typical Goryachkina grind, Aleksandra managed to secure an extra pawn and transition into a theoretically winning rook endgame. However, she ultimately erred and failed unable to convert her advantage, allowing Divya Deshmukh to escape \u201cby the skin of her teeth.\u201d The result served as yet another reminder of the old chess adage that \u201call rook endings are drawn.\u201d It is worth noting that, in the final phase of the game, Goryachkina was also under significant time pressure. The two winners of the day in the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament were Kateryna Lagno and Bibisara Assaubayeva, who now share the lead. The encounter between Tan Zhongyi and Lagno was a wildly chaotic battle, with the advantage swinging multiple times. True to the old saying \u201cwhoever makes the penultimate mistake wins\u201d it was Lagno who held her nerve at the critical moment and delivered a stunning finish. After 42.Qxd5? (better was42.Qxh5 giving up the queen but emerging slightly better) \u00a0a brilliant, must-see combination followed. Lagno played 42\u2026Nf4!, and after 43.exf4 Rh6+ 44.Kg3 Qd3+!, and White\u2019s position collapsed. The key point is that White cannot interpose with the knight on f3 due to the hanging queen on d5. In the game, 45.Qf3 was tried, but it runs into the spectacular decisive blow 45\u2026g4!! blow. After 46.Qxd3 Rh3#, it is checkmate. Reflecting on the dramatic turnaround, Lagno admitted in the press conference: \u201cI was so disappointed that I even wanted to resign, but then I decided to fight on at least to move forty. However, I do have to improve my time management though.\u201d https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=YDk7S0JaVpY The game between Zhu Jiner and Bibisara Assaubayeva was yet another highly complex and tactical battle, one that, in truth, could have gone either way. Assaubayeva once again demonstrated her strength as a counter-attacker. The moment she sensed an opportunity to turn the tables and target Zhu Jiner\u2019s king, she launched a direct and energetic<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":44677,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[153,69],"regular":[361],"sticky-post":[],"class_list":["post-44655","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chess-news","tag-fide-candidates","tag-fide-womens-candidates","regular-regular"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44655","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44655"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44655\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44697,"href":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44655\/revisions\/44697"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44677"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44655"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44655"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44655"},{"taxonomy":"regular","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/regular?post=44655"},{"taxonomy":"sticky-post","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sticky-post?post=44655"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}