Sindarov Clinches Candidates Early; Women’s Top Spot to Be Decided in the Final Round

The biggest story of the day in the FIDE Candidates Tournament was Javokhir Sindarov securing overall victory with one round to spare. His draw against Anish Giri was enough to preserve his lead, and as none of his pursuers managed to reduce the gap, the tournament win became official. Sindarov has therefore earned the right to challenge D Gukesh in the World Championship match at the end of the year. Reaching 9.5 points before the final round, he not only guaranteed first place but also underlined the most consistent campaign of the event.

Round 13 in the open section produced a generally balanced set of results. Wei Yi drew with Andrey Esipenko, Hikaru Nakamura split the point with Matthias Bluebaum, and Fabiano Caruana also drew against Praggnanandhaa R. These outcomes highlighted once again the value of the leader’s controlled approach. In an event like the Candidates—double round-robin, lengthy, and played under enormous psychological pressure—the decisive factor is often not just winning games, but managing risk correctly at critical moments. Sindarov did that throughout the tournament, staying ahead of the field with both deep preparation and strong practical decision-making.

After 13 rounds, Sindarov leads clearly with 9.5 points. He is followed by Anish Giri on 7.5, while Fabiano Caruana and Wei Yi share 6.5. Bluebaum and Nakamura stand on 6, with Praggnanandhaa on 5.5 and Esipenko on 4.5. The standings show that Sindarov was not merely the leader, but the only player able to create a truly significant cushion over the field. Attention now turns to how he may approach a World Championship match against Gukesh, as the chess world closely follows the new balance of power emerging among the game’s younger stars.

In the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament, by contrast, the tension will carry into the final day. Bibisara Assaubayeva defeated Anna Muzychuk in a crucial game to reach 7.5 points and join R Vaishali in first place. Vaishali’s draw against Tan Zhongyi meant she missed the chance to remain sole leader. In the day’s other games, Kateryna Lagno beat Divya Deshmukh, while Aleksandra Goryachkina scored a full point against Zhu Jiner. As a result, Assaubayeva and Vaishali lead with 7.5 points before the last round, with Zhu Jiner just behind on 7. If the tie at the top remains unbroken, the tournament may have to be decided by a tiebreak. That means not only move quality, but also time management, nerves, and opening choices will be decisive in the women’s section.

The overall picture shows how this year’s Candidates has produced two very different narratives. In the open event, Sindarov’s early triumph established clear authority; in the women’s tournament, the title race remains unresolved until the very end. On one side, the next challenger for the world crown is already known; on the other, a final-round showdown still awaits. Once again, one of the most prestigious events on the FIDE calendar has placed itself at the center of the chess world—not only because of the results, but because of the intensity of the competition and the strategic depth on display.