Javokhir Sindarov Shines with Third Consecutive Victory at FIDE Candidates 2026

Javokhir Sindarov Shines Bright in FIDE Candidates 2026 with Victory Over Nakamura

Cyprus, April 3, 2026 — Rising star Javokhir Sindarov continued his remarkable performance at the FIDE Candidates Tournament, securing his third consecutive victory with a decisive win over American grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura. With this victory, Sindarov now boasts an impressive score of 4.5 out of 5 after Round Five, solidifying his position as a formidable contender in the tournament.

In a game that showcased his tactical prowess, Sindarov seized control early on with a well-timed central break and active rook play. The turning point came when he capitalized on an inaccuracy from Nakamura, punishing White’s queenside expansion with a clever 14…Nxb4. Following this, he executed a central break with c5 on move 16, steadily improving his position and piece activity.

Sindarov then shifted his strategy to a structured kingside expansion, playing f6, h6, and g5 to tighten the screws on Nakamura’s position. The decisive blow arrived on move 41 with gxh4, which opened up Nakamura’s king and forced a resignation, marking a significant milestone in Sindarov’s burgeoning career.

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In other notable matches, India’s R Praggnanandhaa settled for a second consecutive draw against Andrey Esipenko after a threefold repetition. Praggnanandhaa adopted a control-first approach, but neither player could create a pawn break, resulting in a static position and a shared point.

After experiencing her first defeat of the tournament in Round Four, Divya Deshmukh bounced back with a resilient draw against Tan Zhongyi. The game remained balanced from the outset, with both players castling early and operating on opposite wings. Divya skillfully navigated the middle game, countering Tan’s pressure with precise maneuvers, ultimately forcing a perpetual check to secure the draw.

In another key matchup, Kateryna Lagno triumphed over Bibisara Assaubayeva, who had previously drawn with Tan Zhongyi. Meanwhile, in the Open section, Fabiano Caruana defeated Matthias Bluebaum, maintaining his position in second place with 3.5 points, while Anish Giri settled for a draw against China’s Wei Yi.

In the final result of Round Five, Zhu Jiner showcased her strength by overpowering R Vaishali, marking her second consecutive victory.

As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Sindarov, whose impressive run has captured the attention of chess enthusiasts worldwide. With each game, he continues to prove that he is a force to be reckoned with in the world of chess.

Published on April 3, 2026