The first major turning point at the Candidates: Sindarov steals the spotlight

Round 4 of the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus produced the clearest statement of the event so far. In the day’s marquee matchup, co-leaders Javokhir Sindarov and Fabiano Caruana faced off, and it was the young Uzbek grandmaster who emerged victorious. With that win, Sindarov improved to 3.5/4 and headed into the first rest day as the sole leader, a full point ahead of his nearest rival. Despite the loss, Caruana remains alone in second place and is the only other player in the field with a plus score after four rounds.

It is still early in the tournament and a long road remains, but Sindarov’s start is now far too strong to be dismissed as a temporary surge. His poise at the board, his ability to find the right plan in critical moments, and his fearless approach against elite opposition have all stood out. His performance has not only reshaped the standings but has also lifted him to world number six in the live ratings. Having started January 2025 below the 2700 mark, the young star has now surged to 2759.2, underlining just how dramatic his rise has been in recent months. As one of the youngest players in the field, defeating pre-tournament favourites such as Praggnanandhaa and Caruana has made his bid for first place look entirely credible.

What makes Sindarov’s run especially impressive is that it has not been based solely on opening preparation. The Uzbek grandmaster has also excelled in the middlegame, where he has repeatedly managed to seize the initiative, handle dynamic positions with confidence, and sense tactical opportunities at the right time. In an event like the Candidates, where even half a point can prove decisive, beating a direct rival for first place carries enormous psychological value as well. For Caruana, the loss is certainly a setback, but given the American star’s experience and depth of preparation, it is far too early to count him out. If anything, the tournament could become even sharper after the rest day.

Behind the leader, the chasing pack remains tightly grouped. Praggnanandhaa, Anish Giri and Matthias Bluebaum are all on 2/4, just half a point behind Caruana. Giri’s win with the black pieces against Andrey Esipenko was particularly important, as it pulled the Dutch grandmaster back into contention. The current standings once again highlight the classic nature of the Candidates: an early lead is valuable, but the true challenge is maintaining momentum over a grueling fourteen-round battle. For now, the headlines rightfully belong to Sindarov — but in Cyprus, the fight is only beginning to heat up.