Javokhir Sindarov Shines with Third Consecutive Victory at FIDE Candidates 2026

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

Cyprus, October 6, 2026 — Rising star Javokhir Sindarov continued his remarkable journey at the FIDE Candidates Tournament, securing his third consecutive victory by defeating renowned grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura. With this win, 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 thrilling encounter, Sindarov showcased his strategic prowess, seizing control of the game with a well-timed central break and dynamic rook play. The turning point came when he capitalized on an inaccuracy from Nakamura, forcing his opponent to resign. Sindarov’s tactical brilliance was evident as he punished White’s queenside expansion with a decisive 14…Nxb4, followed by a central break with 16…c5 that allowed him to steadily improve his position.

The Uzbek prodigy then shifted gears, launching a structured kingside expansion with moves f6, h6, and g5, effectively squeezing Nakamura’s position. The decisive blow arrived on move 41 with gxh4, opening up Nakamura’s king and sealing the match in Sindarov’s favor.

Meanwhile, India’s R Praggnanandhaa faced a more subdued Round Five, settling for a second consecutive draw against Andrey Esipenko after a threefold repetition. Praggnanandhaa adopted a control-first strategy, but neither player could create a significant 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 navigated the middle game adeptly, countering Tan’s pressure with calm responses, ultimately forcing a perpetual check to secure the draw.

In other notable results, Kateryna Lagno achieved a crucial victory over Bibisara Assaubayeva, while Fabiano Caruana maintained his strong position in the tournament with a win against Matthias Bluebaum, bringing his score to 3.5 points. Anish Giri also managed to draw with China’s Wei Yi, adding to the competitive atmosphere of the event.

In the final result of Round Five, Zhu Jiner overpowered R Vaishali, marking her second consecutive victory and further intensifying the competition.

As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Sindarov, whose impressive performance continues to captivate chess enthusiasts worldwide. With each round, the stakes grow higher, and the excitement surrounding the FIDE Candidates 2026 in Cyprus is palpable.

For more insights on Sindarov’s journey, check out our in-depth feature here.