Candidates Tournament
Sindarov surges to sole lead in FIDE Candidates after round six win over Wei Yi
Imeripotiwa na AI Picha iliyoundwa na AI
Uzbekistan's Javokhir Sindarov beat China's Wei Yi in round six of the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 in Pegeia, Cyprus, reaching 5.5/6 points for a 1.5-point lead over Fabiano Caruana. India's R Praggnanandhaa drew Hikaru Nakamura and sits on three points. In the women's section, Ukraine's Anna Muzychuk took outright first with four points, while Divya Deshmukh and R Vaishali earned their first wins to join second place on three.
In round 12 of the 2026 Women's Candidates Tournament in Cyprus, India's R Vaishali lost to China's Zhu Jiner, leaving both tied at seven points with two rounds remaining. The title race is now wide open. Fellow Indian Divya Deshmukh also lost her match.
Imeripotiwa na AI
R Vaishali defeated Russia's Aleksandra Goryachkina in round 11 to claim the sole lead in the Women's Candidates tournament. This extended her advantage over second-placed Zhu Jiner to a full point. India's Divya Deshmukh held Jiner to a draw.
Grandmasters Anish Giri and Hikaru Nakamura have engaged in a public spat on social media, triggered by overlapping schedules between major chess events. The dispute centers on viewership and opportunities amid preparations for the Candidates Tournament 2026. While both players are set to compete in the upcoming event in Cyprus, their exchange highlights tensions in the evolving chess landscape.
Imeripotiwa na AI
R Praggnanandhaa is struggling at the Tata Steel Masters in Wijk aan Zee, with only 4.5 points after 11 rounds. The Indian grandmaster, who qualified for the upcoming Candidates Tournament, has cited fatigue from a hectic schedule as a factor in his performance. Despite the dip, he remains optimistic about his preparation for the March event.