- GM Javokhir Sindarov achieved his sixth win in the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament, the most in the modern format since 2013
- Sindarov now leads by two points with four rounds remaining, maintaining a commanding position
- In the Women’s Candidates, GM Vaishali Rameshbabu secured sole leadership after GM Zhu Jiner lost to GM Bibisara Assaubayeva
- Round 11 resumes Saturday following Friday’s rest day
Sindarov Dominates as Record Falls
The 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament reached its 10th round with Uzbek grandmaster Javokhir Sindarov further cementing his tournament dominance. Sindarov recorded another decisive victory, this time against GM Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, to reach six wins—a historic achievement in the modern Candidates format.
The win represents a significant milestone. Since the tournament’s current format began in 2013, no player has accumulated six victories in a single Candidates event. Sindarov’s aggressive style and tactical prowess have been on full display throughout the tournament.
Tight Race Behind The Leader
With two points separating him from the second-place GM Anish Giri, Sindarov has positioned himself in an excellent position to potentially wrap up the tournament before the final rounds. GM Fabiano Caruana remains in contention, trailing by three points.
All remaining games in the round ended in draws. Giri and Nakamura played to a stalemate, as did Wei Yi against Caruana and Esipenko against Bluebaum. These results left the standings largely unchanged, allowing Sindarov’s lead to widen through his decisive result.
Four rounds remain in the tournament, giving competitors opportunity to mount comebacks, though Sindarov’s commanding lead suggests the title race may already be decided.
Vaishali Claims Women’s Leadership
The Women’s Candidates Tournament produced more dramatic action in round 10. A quiet draw between Vaishali and GM Anna Muzychuk proved sufficient to move Vaishali into sole first place as her closest rival stumbled.
GM Zhu Jiner, who had shared the lead heading into the round, suffered a critical loss to GM Bibisara Assaubayeva after rejecting a draw offer and allowing her position to deteriorate. The decision proved costly as Zhu’s loss handed Vaishali the outright advantage.
Competitive Women’s Field
Unlike the men’s tournament, the women’s race remains highly competitive. Assaubayeva and GM Aleksandra Goryachkina, who earned her first victory by defeating GM Divya Deshmukh, both trail Vaishali by just half a point. GM Kateryna Lagno sits only one point back, while Deshmukh remains within striking distance despite consecutive losses.
The women’s field shows no signs of separating, suggesting that the final rounds could determine the champion in dramatic fashion.
Tournament Schedule and Coverage
After a rest day on Friday, round 11 begins Saturday, April 9, at 8:45 a.m. ET (14:45 CEST / 6:15 p.m. IST).
Fans can follow the tournament on Chess24’s YouTube and Twitch channels, with commentary provided by GM Judit Polgar, GM David Howell, and John Sargent. Live updates are available through the Events Page.
Tournament Context
The FIDE Candidates Tournament stands as the year’s most prestigious FIDE competition. Eight players in both the Open and Women’s sections compete in a double round-robin format, with the eventual winners earning the right to challenge current world champions Gukesh Dommaraju and Ju Wenjun for their respective titles.