The final stretch of the Candidates: Sindarov takes a major step toward victory

The 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament saw decisive developments in round 12, shaping the title race in both the Open and the Women’s events. The most important result of the day came when GM Javokhir Sindarov secured a quick and quiet draw against GM Hikaru Nakamura, avoiding unnecessary risks and preserving his lead. With that result, the young grandmaster remains in front and now needs only one more draw from the final two rounds to win the 2026 Candidates and earn the right to challenge the reigning world champion. Considering the historic significance of the Candidates, Sindarov now stands on the brink of the biggest achievement of his career.

The other games of the round were also tense, even if they ended peacefully. GM Matthias Bluebaum managed to put pressure on GM Fabiano Caruana for a while, but he could not convert his initiative into a full point and the game ended in a draw. GM Andrey Esipenko, meanwhile, faced severe time trouble against GM R Praggnanandhaa in a sharp position, yet his resourceful and stubborn defense allowed him to save half a point. The most dramatic game of the day was the encounter between GM Anish Giri and GM Wei Yi. Giri had several winning chances, both on the board and on the clock, but failed to deliver the knockout blow. In tournament terms, this draw may prove especially costly, as it significantly reduced his already slim chances of winning the event.

In the Women’s Candidates Tournament, the race became even more intense and unpredictable. In the key top-board clash of the day, GM Zhu Jiner defeated tournament leader GM Vaishali Rameshbabu, reshaping the standings at the very top. As a result, Vaishali and Zhu are now tied for first place, setting up a thrilling finish over the remaining rounds. The outcome underlined just how volatile the women’s event remains: a single game can completely alter the balance, and opening preparation, psychological resilience, and practical decision-making are all likely to play a decisive role from here.

The Candidates Tournament is played as an eight-player double round robin, with the winner earning the right to challenge the reigning world champion in a world championship match. Historically, the Candidates used to be held as a knockout competition, but since 2013 it has been staged in its modern format, becoming one of the most prestigious and demanding events on the chess calendar. After round 12, the overall picture is clearer: in the Open event, Sindarov holds the fate of the tournament in his own hands, though in chess nothing is final until the last move is played; in the Women’s Candidates, the battle for first place looks set to remain wide open until the very end.