FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026: Sindarov Slips, Giri Strikes Back as Title Race Heats Up

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The FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 is getting more exciting with every round. A crucial mistake by Javokhir Sindarov allowed his rivals to close the gap, making the fight for first place even tighter.

Sindarov Misses Big Chance

Sindarov had a strong position against Matthias Bluebaum. He was close to winning the game. However, he missed a key move that could have kept his attack alive. Instead, he allowed a queen exchange, which reduced his chances.

Later, Sindarov admitted that he miscalculated in the endgame. This mistake allowed Bluebaum to escape and secure a draw. Even after this slip, Sindarov still leads the tournament by 1.5 points.

Giri Defeats Caruana in Brilliant Style

Anish Giri took full advantage of the situation. He defeated Fabiano Caruana with the black pieces in an impressive game. The game started as a classical Italian Opening. Both players followed theory for a long time.

But under time pressure, Caruana made a serious mistake. Giri quickly spotted a brilliant tactic and launched a winning attack. With this victory, Giri reduced the gap at the top and kept his title hopes alive.

Other Games in Open Section

The remaining games ended in draws, but not without drama.

R Praggnanandhaa had a winning position against Wei Yi but failed to convert it.
Hikaru Nakamura played a long 92-move game against Andrey Esipenko, which ended in a draw.
Esipenko showed excellent endgame technique, holding the position with precise rook play.

Women’s Candidates: Vaishali and Zhu Jiner Lead

In the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament, the competition is equally intense. R Vaishali and Zhu Jiner now share the lead with 5.5/9 points.

Vaishali Continues Strong Form

Vaishali defeated Divya Deshmukh after a mistake in the middlegame.

Divya overlooked a key tactical idea, which left her position weak. Vaishali converted her advantage smoothly and secured an important win.

Zhu Jiner Shows Excellent Technique

Zhu Jiner played a modern opening setup and faced Kateryna Lagno.

After the queens were exchanged, Lagno made a mistake in the endgame. Zhu Jiner took advantage and converted the position with strong technique.

Other Women’s Games

Aleksandra Goryachkina played safely and drew against Bibisara Assaubayeva.
Tan Zhongyi held a difficult endgame against Anna Muzychuk to secure a draw.

Tournament Atmosphere and Fan Activities

The event is not just about games. Fans are also enjoying many activities. Former Women’s World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk hosted a fun chess quiz.

Players also interacted with fans, signed autographs, and took photos. This made the tournament even more special for chess lovers.

Final Thoughts

With only five rounds remaining, the tournament is wide open. Sindarov still leads, but his advantage is shrinking. Players like Giri are gaining momentum at the right time.

In the women’s section, Vaishali and Zhu Jiner are showing great consistency and fighting spirit. The coming rounds promise even more excitement and surprises in this thrilling battle for the Candidates title.