Sindarov Dominates with Brilliant Win Over Praggnanandhaa | FIDE Candidates 2026 Round 10
Javokhir Sindarov delivered a stunning performance in Round 10 of the Cyprus FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026. He defeated R Praggnanandhaa in an exciting and attacking game.
With only four rounds left, Sindarov now leads the tournament by a huge margin of two points.
In the Women’s Candidates, the race has become tighter. Vaishali continues to lead, but Bibisara Assaubayeva and Aleksandra Goryachkina are catching up after important wins.
A Special Start to the Round
The round began with a special moment. Chess legend Boris Gelfand made the ceremonial first move on Sindarov’s board.
Gelfand is a former World Cup winner and Candidates champion. He also played in the 2012 World Championship match.
Interestingly, his opponent from that match, Viswanathan Anand, was also present. The five-time World Champion is now the FIDE Deputy President.
Sindarov vs Praggnanandhaa – A Decisive Battle
Sindarov chose a sharp and risky line in the Queen’s Gambit. He later admitted it may not have been the safest decision. Praggnanandhaa won a piece for two pawns, but his king became exposed. This gave Sindarov the chance to attack.
A critical mistake by Praggnanandhaa on move 22 changed everything. Sindarov quickly took control and converted the advantage with precision. After the game, Sindarov stayed calm and focused. He said he is close to victory but still concentrating on playing good chess.
Defeating Praggnanandhaa is a big achievement. It shows Sindarov is in top form and fully in control of the tournament. With a two-point lead, he is now the clear favorite to win the Candidates and earn a World Championship opportunity.
Solid Draws on the Top Boards
The other three games ended in high-quality draws with near-perfect accuracy. Anish Giri had a slight edge against Hikaru Nakamura in the Exchange Queen’s Gambit, but Nakamura defended well.
Andrey Esipenko could not create chances against Matthias Bluebaum’s Petroff Defence. The game simplified quickly and ended in a draw.
Wei Yi pressed slightly against Fabiano Caruana in the French Winawer, but Caruana defended perfectly to hold the game.
Women’s Candidates – The Fight Intensifies
The Women’s Candidates Tournament remains very competitive. Vaishali held a comfortable draw against Anna Muzychuk with black pieces. Both players showed flawless accuracy.
Kateryna Lagno gained a small advantage against Tan Zhongyi, but a mistake in the endgame allowed Tan to escape with a draw.
Aleksandra Goryachkina scored her first win of the tournament by defeating Divya Deshmukh. The game was balanced for a long time, but a late mistake by Divya under time pressure proved costly. Goryachkina was happy to finally win a game and regain momentum.
Bibisara Assaubayeva also secured an important victory against Zhu Jiner. The game was equal for a long time, but Zhu made an inaccurate decision near the time control. Assaubayeva now looks dangerous and could become a serious contender in the final rounds.
Off the Board Highlights
Boris Gelfand entertained fans with a simultaneous exhibition. He scored an impressive 20 wins, 2 draws, and only 1 loss. In a heartwarming moment, his son also participated in the simul.
Gelfand later interacted with fans and shared his thoughts about the tournament.
What’s Next?
The tournament now heads into its third rest day. Round 11 will begin on April 11, and the tension is rising as the event enters its final stage. Sindarov is in a strong position, but anything can still happen in the remaining rounds.
Photos: Michal Walusza, Niki Riga, FIDE_Chess
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS
