Round Two Recap: Draws Dominate at the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament and Women’s Candidates Event

All Games Drawn in Round Two of 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament

In a surprising turn of events, all eight games in the second round of the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament and the 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates ended in draws, leaving the standings unchanged and the tension palpable as players gear up for the next round.

Open Tournament: A Stalemate at the Top

The open tournament saw GMs Fabiano Caruana, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, and Javokhir Sindarov maintaining their lead positions. Despite some players, including Hikaru Nakamura, Anish Giri, and Andrey Esipenko, showing signs of improvement after their round one losses, the lack of decisive results means the competition remains fierce and tightly contested.

After a day filled with decisive outcomes in round one, the second round proved to be a more cautious affair, with players opting for solid defenses rather than taking risks. Notably, Praggnanandhaa and Sindarov managed to gain slight advantages in their games but ultimately settled for draws.

Women’s Tournament: Drama Amidst Draws

In the women’s event, the games were equally gripping, with GM Zhu Jiner initially holding a two-pawn advantage against GM Kateryna Lagno. However, in a dramatic twist, Zhu overlooked a critical rook sacrifice during a tense time scramble, allowing Lagno to escape unscathed.

Another highlight came from GM Vaishali Rameshbabu, who executed a stunning queen sacrifice for a pawn against GM Divya Deshmukh. Deshmukh had a chance to capitalize on a blunder but missed the opportunity, leading to yet another draw in a round filled with excitement despite the final results.

Looking Ahead

As the players prepare for round three, scheduled for Tuesday, March 31, at 8:45 a.m. ET / 14:45 CEST / 6:15 p.m. IST, the stakes are higher than ever. Fans can catch all the action live on Chess24’s YouTube and Twitch channels, as well as follow the games on the Events Page.

The FIDE Candidates Tournament is the pinnacle of chess competition, with players vying for the chance to challenge reigning World Champions Gukesh Dommaraju and Ju Wenjun. As the tournament progresses, the anticipation builds for what promises to be an electrifying showdown in the coming rounds.

Stay tuned for more updates and in-depth analysis as the tournament unfolds!