Javokhir Sindarov is turning the 2026 Candidates into his statement tournament. The 19-year-old delivered the biggest result of Round 5, beating Hikaru Nakamura to move to an impressive 4.5/5 and take clear control at the top.
Nakamura’s decision to spend 67 minutes on move 13 caused a fundamental change in the match. After that, Sindarov made a decisive move forward. The American made no attempts at bouncing back, and Sindarov demonstrated great poise in converting his position to a win without giving his opponent any real shot of returning to the game. This win was yet another very high-pressure clean victory to help with Sindarov’s growth as a player.
The only player who is still competing in Candidates 2026 is Fabiano Caruana, who had an important game against Matthias Bluebaum. Caruana is at 3.5 points and is the only player remaining who has an opportunity to catch Sindarov. Caruana’s victory wasn’t overly impressive, but it was exactly what he needed, considering the increasing gap.
The other players are already feeling the pressure. R Praggnanandhaa and Anrey Esipenko both played a balanced game and earned half a point for each. Anish Giri and Wei also split their games, with each of them receiving a half-point. With Sindarov now at least a half point ahead, the two players have already lost valuable half-points to cover a larger gap.
Women’s Candidates tighten into three-way battle
In the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026, the picture is far less settled and a lot more chaotic.
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Kateryna Lagno bounced back in style, defeating Bibisara Assaubayeva to re-enter the title conversation. At the same time, Zhu Jiner continued her strong run, beating Vaishali Rameshbabu to join the lead. With Anna Muzychuk drawing her game, the standings at the top have now tightened into a three-way tie.
Unlike the open section, where one player is beginning to break away, the women’s event is still wide open. Just a single point separates first place from the bottom half, keeping every result crucial heading into the next round.
FIDE Candidates Round 6 becomes a pivotal point in both sections, as well as for each player’s viewpoint. Sindarov has gained momentum as he maintains his advantage over both players; however, due to having several rounds left, the pressure will only grow on the player. Meanwhile, from the perspective of the women’s division, the race has opened up significantly, and things are continuing to heat up.
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Also Read: Grenke Chess Festival 2026: Magnus Carlsen Goes 10/10 on Opening Day in Karlsruhe
