The balance shifts in the Candidates: Sindarov scores a critical win

The 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament saw a major change at the top in round four, as GM Javokhir Sindarov emerged as the sole leader in the Open section. The young grandmaster defeated former co-leader GM Fabiano Caruana in one of the most anticipated pairings of the round, producing an impressive and largely one-sided performance to reach 3.5/4. In an event as unforgiving as the Candidates, that result gave him not only the outright lead but also a significant psychological boost. In the Women's Candidates, the standings remain tighter, with GM Bibisara Assaubayeva and GM Anna Muzychuk sharing first place on 2.5/4.

The Candidates Tournament is one of the most prestigious qualifying events in chess, featuring eight players in a double round-robin format. Its winner earns the right to challenge the reigning world champion in a world championship match. Historically, the Candidates used to be played as a knockout event, but since 2013 it has been held in its current format, placing even greater emphasis on deep preparation, opening repertoire, and endurance over a long tournament. Throughout the event, Lichess is supporting the coverage with detailed round reports, expert annotations, and interviews, adding analytical depth and strong media visibility to the competition.

A closer look at round four shows that Sindarov's display against Caruana stood out especially in the opening phase. Caruana tried to unsettle his opponent with the Queen's Gambit Accepted, but Sindarov responded with confidence and creativity; to many observers, his approach even echoed Ding Liren's flexible style of steering opponents away from their preparation. Caruana spent a great deal of time early on, and that gradually translated into mounting positional pressure. The young Uzbek star never let go of the initiative. Another major result came from GM Anish Giri, who also won a one-sided game against GM Andrey Esipenko. GM Hikaru Nakamura, meanwhile, missed a golden chance against GM Wei Yi in a tricky double-rook endgame, while the game between GM Matthias Blübaum and GM R Praggnanandhaa was a calm, accurate draw.

In the Women's Candidates, the shared lead underlines just how open the race remains. Assaubayeva's dynamic and practical style contrasts with Muzychuk's experience and positional depth, a combination that promises high-level chess in the rounds ahead. In a demanding event like the Candidates, success depends not only on opening preparation but also on energy management, psychological resilience, and the ability to make the right decisions in critical moments. After round four, the picture is clear: Sindarov has taken an early step ahead in the Open, while the Women's event looks set for a far fiercer and more fluid battle for first place.