- Javokhir Sindarov defeated world number-two Hikaru Nakamura in round five to reach 4.5/5 at the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament
- Nakamura spent 67 minutes contemplating two moves before selecting 13.h4?, a critical error that cost him the game
- Sindarov now leads by three points, with Fabiano Caruana trailing by one after defeating Matthias Bluebaum
- In the Women’s Candidates, Kateryna Lagno, Anna Muzychuk, and Zhu Jinjer share the lead after round five
Sindarov’s Remarkable Streak Continues
Uzbek grandmaster Javokhir Sindarov has extended his exceptional run at the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament, capturing a stunning victory over world number-two Hikaru Nakamura in round five. The triumph propelled Sindarov to 4.5 points from five games, establishing a commanding three-point advantage over his nearest rival Nakamura.
Sindarov, currently ranked world number-five, has now defeated both the second and third-rated players consecutively. His near-perfect score of +4 puts him in an extremely strong position to claim the tournament title and earn a match for the world championship.
Nakamura’s Preparation Breakdown
The critical moment came when Nakamura, playing with the white pieces in what he described as a must-win encounter, faced an unexpected challenge early in the middlegame. After Sindarov played 12…0-0 rather than the anticipated 12…e5, Nakamura found himself in unfamiliar territory and deliberated for one hour and 44 seconds.
Faced with a position where he was already down two pawns, Nakamura ultimately selected 13.h4?, a move that lacked sufficient compensation. The grandmaster later acknowledged this as a critical miscalculation. In contrast, the correct move would have been 13.Ne4!, which offered better practical chances.
“He just thought one hour and played the wrong move, and after this I take this advantage and played very well,” Sindarov explained to commentators after the game.
Blame Directed at Support Team
In a candid stream analysis following the loss, Nakamura placed responsibility for the preparation gap squarely on his support team. He revealed that his opening file had not included the 12…0-0 move, which he characterized as deceptively straightforward yet difficult to anticipate without proper preparation.
“This was 100 percent on the people who were working for me,” Nakamura stated, though he clarified he was not referring to his regular second Kris Littlejohn. The incident highlighted how even computer-generated preparation can miss moves that have been discussed in public chess education, including a Chessable course.
By his recap, Nakamura had taken a more measured perspective, including himself among those who should have considered a move that “slipped through the cracks.”
The Field Narrows
Fabiano Caruana maintained contact with the leader by delivering checkmate against Matthias Bluebaum, ending the latter’s unbeaten streak. Caruana now stands at 3.5 points, just one point behind Sindarov.
Other round five contests saw draws between Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu and Andrey Esipenko, as well as between Anish Giri and Wei Yi. These draws left both players at 2.5 points, two points clear of the field.
Women’s Candidates Heating Up
In the 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament, three players now share the lead following round five. Kateryna Lagno defeated co-leader Bibisara Assaubayeva, while top seed Zhu Jinjer scored her second consecutive victory by overcoming Vaishali Rameshbabu. Anna Muzychuk held her position through a quick draw with Aleksandra Goryachkina.
Looking Ahead
With Sindarov holding such a substantial lead, questions naturally arise about whether the Uzbek will adjust his playing style. When asked if his comfortable margin might lead to a more conservative approach, Sindarov responded with characteristic pragmatism: “No, I’m always playing solid—with White I’m playing for two results, with Black I was always trying to be solid and I don’t want to push, so let’s see!”
Round six continues on Saturday, April 4, with competition commencing at 8:45 a.m. ET.