R Praggnanandhaa Suffers 3rd Defeat Of Candidates; R Vaishali Jumps To Sole Lead Among Women The tenth round of the Candidates chess tournament concluded with Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov extending his lead to two points after defeating India’s R Praggnanandhaa. Sindarov, who had already secured six victories in the tournament, added his second win over Praggnanandhaa, raising his total to eight points. The Indian player, who had previously lost to Sindarov in rounds five and eight, now trails with four points, effectively eliminating him from contention for the title. Anish Giri of the Netherlands remains the sole competitor within striking distance, sitting on six points. Sindarov’s victory was marked by his meticulous preparation and tactical precision. The Uzbek player sacrificed a piece early in the game, creating complex positions that Praggnanandhaa failed to navigate. The Indian’s queen was captured for two rooks and several pawns, leading to a decisive loss. Sindarov’s subsequent play was described as flawless, solidifying his position at the top of the standings. In other results from the round, Fabiano Caruana of the United States drew with Wei Yi of China, while Hikaru Nakamura of the United States and Anish Giri of the Netherlands shared a draw. Andrey Esipenko of Russia and Matthias Bluebaum of Germany also settled for a draw, keeping their points totals at 3.5 and 4.5 respectively. These outcomes maintained the competitive balance in the men’s section, though Sindarov’s dominance remains a defining factor. Meanwhile, in the women’s Candidates tournament, R Vaishali of India surged to the sole lead after drawing with Anna Muzychuk of Ukraine. Vaishali’s six points placed her ahead of Muzychuk and Jiner Zhu of China, who both scored 5.5 points.#fabiano_caruana #r_praggnanandhaa #javokhir_sindarov #anish_giri #wei_yi
FIDE Candidates: Sindarov Stumbles, Giri Strikes as Race Tightens The FIDE Candidates tournament saw a dramatic shift in momentum as Javokhir Sindarov missed a critical opportunity to extend his lead, allowing Anish Giri to narrow the gap after a decisive victory over Fabiano Caruana. With five rounds remaining, Sindarov still holds a 1.5-point advantage over the field, but the results of the day have intensified the competition. Meanwhile, the Women’s Candidates tournament also saw key developments as Vaishali and Zhu Jiner surged ahead, while Anna Muzychuk’s missteps left her trailing the leaders. The afternoon’s action began with a symbolic opening move by Paris Klerides, the Cyprus Chess Federation’s General Secretary and FIDE Delegate, who played 1.e4 on behalf of Matthias Bluebaum. However, Bluebaum himself opted for 1.d4, initiating a rare and uncharted line against Sindarov’s Harrwitz Attack in the Queen’s Gambit Declined. Commentator Jan Gustafsson noted the unusual move order, speculating that neither player had encountered it before. The game quickly escalated into a complex position with opposite-side castling, leaving both players without established theoretical references. The critical moment arrived after White played 24.bxa4. Sindarov, who had a clear advantage, faced a pivotal decision. Instead of opting for 24…Qb7 or 24…Qa5 to maintain pressure, he chose 24…Bxa4?, exchanging queens and easing the tension. In his post-game press conference, Sindarov admitted the miscalculation: “I had a big advantage, but I missed his resource 29.f5 in the endgame. I thought I was winning a pawn, but I should have kept the queens on the board; I would have had a very strong attack.#fabiano_caruana #javokhir_sindarov #zhu_jiner #anish_giri #vaishali
Javokhir Sindarov Dominates Candidates Tournament with Record-Setting Victory Javokhir Sindarov of Uzbekistan secured a decisive victory in the Candidates tournament in Cyprus, defeating Hikaru Nakamura after a grueling 67 minutes and 44 seconds of analysis by the American grandmaster. The win came just two days after Sindarov had stunned the chess world by defeating top favorite Fabiano Caruana, marking a pivotal moment in the competition. Sindarov, a 20-year-old prodigy, employed the triangular Marshall system—a strategy he had meticulously prepared during his rest day. He explained to FIDE that he had dedicated significant time to studying the Marshall line against Nakamura, anticipating the American’s potential moves. “Yesterday I had a lot of time to prepare Marshall line against him… He probably forgot the move after knight g3 castle,” Sindarov remarked, highlighting his confidence in his preparation. The game unfolded as Nakamura attempted to lure Sindarov into a Gambit, a tactic the Uzbek player had already anticipated. “I tried to not miss small tactics and checked everything with black so I had time,” Sindarov said, emphasizing his thoroughness. When Nakamura opted for d4 instead of the expected Italian or Lopez openings, Sindarov remained unfazed. “I was prepared for it,” he added, underscoring his strategic readiness. Nakamura’s prolonged hesitation became a defining moment of the game. After over an hour of deliberation, the American settled on h4, a move that Sindarov described as suboptimal. “I thought knight d4 was the only move giving advantage,” Sindarov said, surprised by Nakamura’s choice. “I was already better, plus I had one hour extra,” he noted, reflecting on his positional advantage.#fide #candidates_tournament #fabiano_caruana #hikaru_nakamura #javokhir_sindarov
Candidates Chess: Fabiano Caruana Steady Yet Unconvincing Fabiano Caruana’s performance in the Candidates tournament has been marked by consistency but lacking the decisive clarity needed to secure a title. Despite a computer evaluation suggesting a decisive advantage of +7 at one point, the Italian grandmaster ultimately split a point with Gukesh, allowing the latter to advance to the title clash. Caruana’s resilience in the face of high-level competition remains evident, yet his recent struggles with decision-making have raised questions about his ability to capitalize on opportunities. Caruana’s history in the Candidates stage is notable. In 2018, he defeated Alexander Grischuk in the final round to earn the right to challenge Magnus Carlsen, a feat that underscored his tactical acumen and preparation. He is also one of only four players to have surpassed an Elo rating of 2825, a testament to his peak performance. However, his achievements have been tempered by the passage of time, as his current form appears to lag behind his historical standards. The tournament’s structure has highlighted Caruana’s strengths and weaknesses. While his positional understanding and ability to calculate complex positions remain sharp, his decision-making has occasionally faltered, leading to missed opportunities. This trend has been evident in his recent Candidates appearances, where he has consistently finished in the top five but rarely claimed outright victories. For instance, in the 2023 event, he placed fifth, and his head-to-head record against his seven rivals in the Candidates cycle stands at exactly +4, reflecting a balanced but unremarkable performance. Caruana’s journey through the Candidates tournaments since his debut in 2016 has been defined by consistency.#candidates_tournament #fabiano_caruana #gukesh #magnus_carlsen #alexander_grischuk
