Ian Nepomniachtchi
Russian grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi secured victory in the XXI Aeroflot Open chess tournament for the second consecutive year. He finished with 7.5 points out of nine, remaining unbeaten after drawing his final game against Mukhammadzokhid Suyarov of Uzbekistan. The event took place in Moscow and featured participants from 22 countries.
Reported by AI
Two-time Candidates winner Ian Nepomniachtchi has shared his tiered predictions for the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament, naming Fabiano Caruana and Praggnanandhaa R as top favorites. In an interview, he assessed the eight-player field based on experience, form, and mental resilience ahead of the event in Cyprus. The tournament, set for March 29 to April 16, will determine the challenger for the world chess championship.