The leader avoids mistakes as the women’s race heats up again

In the FIDE Candidates Tournament, the most anticipated pairing of the day was the clash between leader Javokhir Sindarov and Hikaru Nakamura. Holding a valuable two-point lead in the standings, Sindarov chose not to take unnecessary risks and instead followed a highly cautious strategy, steering the game to a relatively quick draw and taking another step toward his ultimate goal. With only two rounds remaining, the young grandmaster preserved his place at the top and maintained a major advantage in the race for the right to challenge world champion Gukesh. As commentator Peter Svidler noted during the live broadcast, at this stage every half-point is almost as valuable as a win for the tournament leader.

Sindarov’s approach was significant not only from a standings perspective but also in psychological terms. Against an opponent like Nakamura, whose preparation is deep and whose strength in sharp, imbalanced positions is well known, forcing early exchanges and simplifying into equality showed excellent tournament judgment. Speaking after the game, Sindarov made it clear that the previous round had been especially important and that his main objective today was to conserve energy and prepare properly for the next critical encounter. At moments like these, top-level chess is not just about finding the best move on the board, but also about executing the right tournament strategy with precision.

Elsewhere in the open section, the remaining games also ended in draws, though that did not mean the day lacked drama. Anish Giri came very close to scoring a full point against Wei Yi, only to let one of the biggest opportunities of the round slip away. In elite events such as the Candidates, a small technical inaccuracy or the loss of a single tempo can be enough for a winning position to dissolve into equality. For that reason, the word “draw” on the scoresheet often fails to capture the true intensity of the struggle. With two rounds to go, the chasing pack still has mathematical chances, which means the event is far from decided and the pressure on the leader will only continue to grow.

In the Women’s Candidates, the strongest statement of the day came from Zhu Jiner. Defeating Vaishali with the black pieces in an impressive performance, the Chinese star moved into a share of first place and reshaped the tournament narrative. From the opening onward, Zhu stood out with confident choices, strong central control, and well-timed active play. She did not simply score a point; she also sent a psychological message to the rest of the field. The ceremonial first move was made by India’s High Commissioner, Mr. Manish, at Vaishali’s board, but by the end of the day the spotlight belonged to Zhu, who emerged victorious with Black.

On the other women’s boards, Bibisara Assaubayeva defeated Kateryna Lagno to close the gap, while Anna Muzychuk missed a major chance against Aleksandra Goryachkina. As a result, with only two rounds left, the race for first place in the women’s event is completely open. In both the open and women’s sections, the picture is clear: every move, every tempo decision, and every draw offer now carries direct championship implications. In the true spirit of the Candidates, the home stretch will test not only calculation and preparation, but also nerves, resilience, and competitive maturity.