Sindarov Wins FIDE Candidates 2026 in Dominant Style

Javokhir Sindarov has officially won the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 with one round to spare. He drew his game against Anish Giri, which was enough to secure first place. With a two-point lead, no one can catch him now.

Sindarov will now face Gukesh D in the World Chess Championship later this year.

Calm and Confident Performance

The game between Sindarov and Giri followed the Queen’s Gambit Declined. Both players played quickly in the opening.

Sindarov was well prepared and comfortable. After queens were exchanged, the position became equal. The game ended in a smooth draw.

Sindarov said he had no problems at any point. He even joked that he was “just chilling” in the rook ending. He thanked his team, family, and coach Roman Vidonyak for their strong support throughout the tournament.

Wei Yi Scores Brilliant Win

Wei Yi defeated Andrey Esipenko in an exciting attacking game. The game featured a sharp line of the Petrov Defence. Esipenko sacrificed a piece to attack, but Wei Yi defended perfectly.

His accuracy helped him convert the advantage into a win.

Praggnanandhaa Holds Caruana

R Praggnanandhaa played a tough game against Fabiano Caruana. Caruana built a strong attack and seemed close to winning.

However, Praggnanandhaa showed great fighting spirit. He created a fortress and saved the game with a draw.

Nakamura vs Bluebaum Ends in Accuracy Battle

Hikaru Nakamura and Matthias Bluebaum played a very precise game.

Both players showed near-perfect accuracy. The position stayed equal throughout, ending in a solid draw.

Women’s Candidates: Title Race Wide Open

The FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026 is still undecided. Bibisara Assaubayeva defeated Anna Muzychuk to join R Vaishali at the top.

Both players now have 7.5 points.

The final round will decide the winner.

• Vaishali will play against Kateryna Lagno
• Assaubayeva will face Divya Deshmukh

If one wins and the other doesn’t, we get a clear champion. If both draw, Zhu Jiner can still catch them. Even players like Aleksandra Goryachkina still have outside chances.

Lagno’s Brilliant Technique

Kateryna Lagno played a fantastic game against Divya Deshmukh. She used her bishop pair and strong pawn structure perfectly.

A beautiful sequence forced Divya into a completely stuck position. Soon after, Divya had to resign in a difficult middlegame zugzwang.

Final Round Details

The final round will be played on April 15 at 3:30 PM. If needed, tiebreaks will take place on April 16. Everything is set for an exciting finish in the Women’s Candidates.

Conclusion

Javokhir Sindarov has shown incredible consistency and preparation to win the Candidates. Now, all eyes are on his World Championship match against Gukesh D.

Meanwhile, the Women’s Candidates promises a dramatic final round with multiple players still in contention. Chess fans around the world are in for a thrilling finish. ♟️🔥