FIDE Candidates 2026 Open Section: Sindarov Seals Title with a Round to Spare; Extends Unbeaten Run to 50 Games Javokhir Sindarov’s remarkable journey at the FIDE Candidates 2026 Open Section reached its conclusion on April 14, 2026, as he secured the title with a draw against Anish Giri in Round 13. The Uzbek grandmaster, who had already extended his unbeaten streak to 50 games, clinched the tournament with a two-point lead, leaving Giri unable to close the gap. The result ensured Sindarov a place in the FIDE World Championship match against D. Gukesh later in the year. Heading into the final round, Sindarov held a two-point advantage over Giri, who needed a decisive victory to force the title race into the final day. However, the draw in Round 13 proved sufficient for Sindarov to claim the title, as the gap could not be bridged in the remaining games. The match against Giri, which began with 1. e4 by the Dutch player, saw Sindarov adopt a solid positional approach. By move 15, the game had transitioned into a queenless middlegame, a scenario that favored Sindarov’s risk-averse strategy. Giri attempted to exert pressure along the d-file, but Sindarov’s resolute defense, marked by moves such as Be6 and Re6, neutralized White’s initiatives. The game eventually reached a rook and bishop endgame, where neither side could find a decisive advantage. After repeated moves, the players agreed to a draw by threefold repetition, a decision that solidified Sindarov’s position as the tournament winner. Sindarov’s achievement marks a significant milestone in his career, as he becomes the first player to remain unbeaten throughout the entire Candidates tournament.#d_gukesh #javokhir_sindarov #anish_giri #fide_candidates_2026_open_section #fide_world_championship
Praggnanandhaa Faces Tough Challenge in FIDE Candidates Tournament The FIDE Candidates tournament 2026 kicks off in Paphos, Cyprus, on Saturday, with eight top-tier players competing in both the open and women’s sections over 14 rounds. The event aims to determine the challenger to the reigning World champions, drawing a mix of seasoned veterans and rising talents. R. Praggnanandhaa, the sole Indian participant in the open section, will be seeking to advance deep into the tournament and secure a potential showdown against his compatriot D. Gukesh in the upcoming championship match. The open field includes American powerhouses Hikaru Nakamura and Fabiano Caruana, Chinese star Wei Yi, Dutch grandmaster Anish Giri, German Matthias Bluebaum, Uzbek Javokhir Sindarov, and Russian Andrey Esipenko. While Nakamura and Caruana lead the ratings, Praggnanandhaa, at 20, remains a formidable contender. The young Indian, making his second appearance in the event, has claimed several elite invitational and open titles in recent years. His performance in this tournament will be critical, as he aims to prove his mettle against a stacked lineup. The women’s tournament, held concurrently, features R. Vaishali and the rapidly ascending Divya Deshmukh. Former World champion Tan Zhongyi, Kateryna Lagno, Aleksandra Goryachkina, Zhu Jiner, Bibisara Assaubayeva, and Anna Muzychuk also join the fray. Notably, Indian grandmaster Koneru Humpy has withdrawn due to safety concerns linked to the West Asia conflict, which slightly diminishes the tournament’s star power. However, the competition remains highly competitive, with Vaishali, who impressed in the previous Candidates event, now regarded as a top contender.#d_gukesh #fide_candidates_tournament_2026 #paphos_cyprus #r_praggnanandhaa #hikaru_nakamura
India at FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026: All You Need to Know The 2026 FIDE Candidates Chess Tournament is set to begin on March 29 at the Cap St Georges Hotel and Resort in Pegeia, Cyprus. This event will feature top players competing in both the Open and Women’s Candidates sections, with eight participants in each category. The winners of these tournaments will earn the right to challenge the reigning world champions, India’s D Gukesh and China’s Ju Wenjun, in later matches this year. The Candidates tournaments are a crucial part of FIDE’s calendar, as they determine who will face the world champions. The 2026 edition will see eight players in the Open section and eight in the Women’s section qualify through a combination of results from the 2024 and 2025 FIDE Circuit, top finishes at the FIDE World Cup, Grand Swiss events, and average ratings. In the Open section, the eight qualifiers include Fabiano Caruana (USA), R Praggnanandhaa (India), Anish Giri (Netherlands), Matthias Blübaum (Germany), Javokhir Sindarov (Uzbekistan), Wei Yi (China), Andrey Esipenko (Russia), and Hikaru Nakamura (USA). Caruana, the world’s third-ranked player with a rating of 2795, qualified after leading the 2024 FIDE Circuit. Praggnanandhaa, India’s top player with a live rating of 2741, earned his spot by winning the 2025 FIDE Circuit. Giri, ranked eighth with a rating of 2753, qualified via the 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss. Blübaum, who finished second at the 2025 Grand Swiss, secured his place with a rating of 2698. Sindarov, a 20-year-old with a rating of 2745, qualified after winning the 2025 FIDE World Cup. Wei Yi, the world’s seventh-ranked player with a rating of 2754, finished second at the World Cup. Esipenko, with a rating of 2698, placed third at the World Cup.#d_gukesh #fide_candidates_tournament_2026 #cap_st_georges_hotel #pegeia_cyprus #ju_wenjun
Anatoly Karpov Claims D Gukesh's World Championship Victory Was an Accident Chess legend Anatoly Karpov described D Gukesh's 2024 World Championship win over Ding Liren as an "accident," suggesting the Indian prodigy was not destined to claim the title. Gukesh, who became the youngest-ever world chess champion at 18 years and six months, defeated Liren in Singapore in December 2024, surpassing Garry Kasparov's record for the youngest champion. Karpov, who himself won the title at 23 years, 10 months, and 11 days in 1975, argued that Liren’s loss in the decisive 14th game was a critical factor in Gukesh’s unexpected triumph. In an interview with KP.RU, Karpov stated, “The Indian chess player became champion by accident because he was not supposed to win the match against the Chinese [Ding Liren].” He emphasized that Liren, the favorite heading into the final, lost a game he should not have lost, which allowed Gukesh to secure the title. Karpov also credited India’s chess infrastructure for Gukesh’s success, noting the government’s support in providing housing for players to reduce travel costs and foster talent. He highlighted how Indian players had become dominant in international tournaments, prompting European organizers to consider limiting their participation. Karpov’s comments followed the 2024 World Championship, where Liren’s defeat in the 14th game—a critical endgame blunder—shifted the momentum in Gukesh’s favor. The 18-year-old’s victory marked a historic moment in chess history, but Karpov’s critique of the outcome suggests he views the result as an anomaly rather than a reflection of Gukesh’s skill. Gukesh is set to defend his title in 2026, facing the winner of the Candidates 2026 tournament.#anatoly_karpov #d_gukesh #ding_liren #kp_ru #candidates_2026
Gukesh Became World Champion by Chance, Says Chess Legend Anatoly Karpov Former world chess champion Anatoly Karpov has publicly questioned the legitimacy of D Gukesh’s recent world championship title, claiming the 19-year-old Indian player secured the crown through “accident.” In an interview with the Russian newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda, Karpov, who was celebrating his upcoming 75th birthday, suggested that Gukesh’s victory over Chinese player Ding Liren was not a result of skill but rather a series of errors. Karpov stated that Ding had lost a critical game that he should not have lost, which allowed Gukesh to claim the title. Karpov’s remarks echo similar criticisms from other prominent Russian figures in the chess world. Earlier this year, when Gukesh became the youngest world champion in history at age 18, former world champion Vladimir Kramnik expressed skepticism on his X account, writing, “No comment. Sad. End of chess as we know it.” Kramnik’s comments were widely interpreted as a dismissal of Gukesh’s credentials. Additionally, Andrei Filatov, president of the Chess Federation of Russia, accused Ding of intentionally losing the match to Gukesh and called for an investigation by FIDE, the sport’s governing body. The controversy surrounding Gukesh’s title has been further fueled by Kramnik’s public critiques of the quality of play during the world championship match. After Game 6 of the contest between Gukesh and Ding, Kramnik lamented the low level of chess, stating, “Frankly, I am very disappointed by today’s game. Even Game 5 was not extremely high level, but today it was really — for a professional — it was really weak play from both players.#anatoly_karpov #d_gukesh #ding_liren #komsomolskaya_pravda #vladimir_kramnik
