One last pulse from the heart of chess in Cyprus
The ChessBase team’s final impressions from Cyprus once again highlighted the unique atmosphere surrounding the Candidates Tournament and the Women’s Candidates. In an elite event where every detail matters, from opening preparation to the final moves on the board, the open section may already have concluded with Javokhir Sindarov taking first place, but the excitement did not fade on the closing day. The focus of the chess world shifted entirely to the women’s event, where the margins at the top were razor-thin and, at least in theory, several players still had a chance to produce something extraordinary.
Even the players’ walk into the hall captured the psychological weight of the occasion. The world’s strongest competitors entered in silence, deeply focused and seemingly withdrawn into their own thoughts, while the rawness of those moments also revealed the human side of top-level chess. Among the items carried through the doors were handbags, jackets, drinks, a smoothie, and even what was jokingly described as a “magical banana.” These small details served as a reminder that elite chess is not defined only by engine lines, opening files, and calculation, but also by rituals, habits, and personal ways of coping with tension.
Outside the playing hall, the scene was just as intense. Commentators followed every development in the broadcast area, while the ChessBase crew also spoke with Sindarov’s second, Mukhiddin Madaminov, offering a glimpse behind the scenes. Still appearing to process the scale of his achievement, Sindarov met fans in the public area, signed boards and books, answered questions, and shared the emotion of one of the most important moments of his career. Success in an event like the Candidates is never only about individual form; it is also built on deep opening preparation, psychological resilience, and the strength of a player’s support team.
The most powerful story of the final day, however, came from the women’s tournament. Vaishali delivered when it mattered most and won her game to secure the top spot. Meanwhile, Assaubayeva could do no better than a draw against Divya Deshmukh, a result that decisively tilted the standings in Vaishali’s favor. Outside the hall, the expressions on the faces of the Rameshbabu family said more than words could: joy, relief, and disbelief all at once. This finale in Cyprus was not just the end of a tournament, but a vivid reminder of how fragile, dramatic, and deeply human chess at the highest level can be. For the ChessBase team, it was also the last day on the island, leaving behind scenes that chess fans will remember for a long time.