Candidates Chess: Rivals Hope Sindarov Fumbles in the Jungle Javokhir Sindarov, the 20-year-old World Cup winner, leads the Candidates chess tournament in Paphos, Cyprus, with three decisive victories under his belt. His rivals, including Hikaru Nakamura and Anish Giri, are determined to prevent him from securing a spot in the World Championship. Nakamura, who missed a critical defensive move against Fabiano Caruana in the first round, admitted his disappointment on his streaming channel. “Not finding Kc7 was a shame and unacceptable from my side,” he said, reflecting on the missed opportunity. Later, he failed to capitalize on a chance against Wei Yi, calling the outcome “the cookie simply hasn’t crumbled in my favour.” Giri, who initially lost to R Praggnanandhaa in the Sicilian Closed variation—a tactic he had previously tutored—turned the tide by defeating Andrey Esipenko in the Sicilian Najdorf. When asked about balancing secrecy and monetizing his expertise, Giri remarked, “It is very easy. I sell my secrets. Everything has a price. Sometimes, you sacrifice dignity for money.” His performance in the fourth round showcased his adaptability, though his earlier loss to Praggnanandhaa highlighted the challenges of the tournament. Sindarov, the youngest participant in the event, maintains a comfortable lead with 3.5 points, supported by his second, GM Mukhiddin Madaminov, and other remote assistants. While he has not disclosed their identities, his friendship with Bibisara Assaubayeva, a three-time Women’s World Blitz champion, is well known. Assaubayeva, competing in the women’s section, has been a consistent presence in the tournament. Sindarov’s confidence stems from his early successes, though he acknowledged the need for caution.#hikaru_nakamura #paphos_cyprus #javokhir_sindarov #anish_giri #bibisara_assaubayeva
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
