FIDE Women’s Candidates Wide Open; Sindarov Extends His Lead
The FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 continues to deliver exciting action. After the second rest day, all players returned refreshed for Round 8. In the Open section, Javokhir Sindarov maintained his strong lead. Playing with the black pieces, he secured a solid draw against Andrey Esipenko.
This result became even more important because Fabiano Caruana lost his game to Hikaru Nakamura. Now, Sindarov leads the tournament by a comfortable two points. Meanwhile, Anish Giri played a clean and technical game to defeat R Praggnanandhaa, moving closer to the top.
Sindarov Holds Firm
Before the round, Peter Svidler predicted that Esipenko would push hard for a win. However, Sindarov came fully prepared. He played quickly in the opening and followed deep preparation in the Catalan. Around move 20, he sacrificed a pawn to gain control over key squares.
Despite thinking for a long time, Esipenko could not find a way to break through. The game ended in a threefold repetition draw.
Nakamura Defeats Caruana
On the other board, Nakamura took full advantage of his preparation. Caruana fell far behind on time early in the game. Even though Caruana defended well and reached a double-rook endgame, one mistake changed everything.
After 28…h5?, Nakamura seized control. His rooks became very active and dominated the position. Although the game lasted until move 67, the result was never in doubt. Nakamura converted the advantage and scored a crucial win.
Giri Outplays Praggnanandhaa
Praggnanandhaa chose a sharp line in the Queen’s Gambit Accepted. However, Giri was well prepared. He slowly improved his position and created a strong knight versus weak bishop scenario.
With better pawn structure, Giri pushed forward, created a passed pawn, and secured a smooth victory.
Wei Yi’s Creative Play Ends in Draw
Wei Yi once again surprised everyone with his aggressive style. He sacrificed material, including a full rook, to attack the king. However, despite his efforts, the position only allowed a perpetual check.
After thinking for a long time, he had to settle for a draw against Matthias Bluebaum.
Women’s Candidates: Five-Way Tie!
The FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026 has become बेहद exciting. Five players are now tied for first place.
Divya Defeats Muzychuk
Divya Deshmukh scored a big win against Anna Muzychuk. Muzychuk had a strong position and was close to winning. But under time pressure, she made mistakes.
Divya stayed calm and turned the game around, securing a crucial victory. This result brings her into the shared lead.
Lagno Wins with Strong Preparation
Kateryna Lagno introduced a new idea in the opening with a pawn sacrifice. Aleksandra Goryachkina struggled to respond and fell into time trouble.
Lagno built a strong position and converted it into a convincing win.
Zhu Jiner Keeps Her Chances Alive
Zhu Jiner played an excellent game against Tan Zhongyi. She handled the Nimzo-Indian Defence perfectly and gained an advantage against an isolated pawn.
With precise play and high accuracy, Zhu secured an important victory.
Vaishali Draws with Assaubayeva
R Vaishali reached a comfortable position against Bibisara Assaubayeva. She tried to press her small advantage, but the game eventually ended in a draw.
Off the Board Highlights
Fans enjoyed special moments during the event:
- A Q&A session with Sagar Shah
- A meet-and-greet with Viswanathan Anand
- Photo sessions with players and trophies
These activities made the tournament even more exciting for chess lovers.
Final Thoughts
After Round 8, the Open section has a clear leader in Sindarov. But in the Women’s section, the race is completely open.
With six rounds remaining, anything can happen. Every game now becomes extremely important.
Photos: Michal Walusza, Yoav Nis, FIDE_Chess
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS
