Exciting Developments in the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament: Caruana and Sindarov Lead the Charge!

Women’s Candidates: Assaubayeva and Lagno Take the Lead After Thrilling Third Round

GMs Caruana and Sindarov Surge Ahead in 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament

April 1, 2026 — In a thrilling third round of the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament, Grandmasters Fabiano Caruana and Javokhir Sindarov emerged as the frontrunners, each securing 2.5 points after three rounds of intense competition.

Caruana showcased his tactical prowess, capitalizing on a blunder by GM Wei Yi to deliver a stunning miniature victory. Meanwhile, Sindarov displayed remarkable bravery, sacrificing a piece to clinch a hard-fought win against GM Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, further solidifying his status as a rising star in the chess world.

The round also featured draws in two highly anticipated matchups: GM Hikaru Nakamura faced off against GM Anish Giri, while GM Matthias Bluebaum and GM Andrey Esipenko battled to a stalemate, leaving fans eager for more action in the upcoming rounds.

Women’s Candidates: Assaubayeva and Lagno Take Charge

In the Women’s Candidates Tournament, GMs Bibisara Assaubayeva and Kateryna Lagno emerged as leaders after a dramatic third round. Assaubayeva’s bold opening strategy initially seemed to backfire against top seed GM Tan Zhongyi, but she skillfully navigated through complications to secure a crucial victory. Lagno, on the other hand, executed a breathtaking knight-and-queen sacrifice to turn the tables on Zhu Jiner, who appeared to be in control.

The round was marked by intense battles, with GM Aleksandra Goryachkina attempting a slow grind against GM Divya Deshmukh, who managed to escape after 81 moves. The only quiet draw of the round came from the matchup between GM Vaishali Rameshbabu and GM Anna Muzychuk.

As the tournament progresses, Assaubayeva and Lagno lead the pack, while the Chinese duo of Zhu and Tan will be looking to close the gap in the upcoming rounds.

Upcoming Matches

Round four is set to commence on Wednesday, April 1, at 8:45 a.m. ET / 14:45 CEST / 6:15 p.m. IST. Fans can catch all the action live on Chess24’s YouTube and Twitch channels, or follow the games on the Events Page.

The FIDE Candidates Tournament is a prestigious event, where the top players vie for the opportunity to challenge reigning World Champions Gukesh Dommaraju and Ju Wenjun. With each round, the stakes grow higher, and the excitement continues to build.

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