Sindarov takes command with stunning win over Praggnanandhaa; Women’s Candidates tightens as Assaubayeva and Goryachkina strike
Javokhir Sindarov took a major step toward glory this afternoon at the Cyprus FIDE Candidates, defeating R Praggnanandhaa in a striking game. With only four rounds remaining, Sindarov now leads the field by a full two points. In the Women’s Tournament, Vaishali remains in the lead, but Bibisara Assaubayeva and Aleksandra Goryachkina have re-entered contention following their Round 10 victories. Let’s take a closer look at this afternoon’s action in the playing venue at the Cap St. Georges Hotel & Resort, here in Cyprus. This afternoon, a true legend of the game, Boris Gelfand, performed the ceremonial first move on Javokhir Sindarov’s board. Gelfand, the winner of the 2009 FIDE World Cup and the 2011 Candidates Tournament, was also the runner-up in the 2012 World Chess Championship. In a delightful touch, he was joined in the frame by his 2012 opponent, Viswanathan Anand, the five-time World Champion and current FIDE Deputy President. As the players settled in and adjusted their pieces at the start of the round, commentators Jan Gustafsson and Peter Svidler discussed possible outcomes. Svidler summed it up perfectly: “I think it will be more of the same. Javokhir will continue to be very comfortable at the top, and absolute mayhem in the women’s event, which continues day in, day out. Predicting that tournament has really become a fool’s errand.” The resemblance between his prediction and what actually transpired was uncanny! Sindarov chose to challenge his opponent’s preparation in a highly complex and dangerous line of the Queen’s Gambit. Reflecting on the decision afterward, he admitted: “I went into a very tricky position. Probably it wasn’t such a good idea to play like this in my situation.” Praggnanandhaa managed to win a piece in exchange for two pawns, but Sindarov seized the initiative and launched a dangerous attack. The critical moment arose on move 22: although Black had a piece for two pawns, his king was exposed. As Sindarov demonstrated after the game, Black’s best chance was 22…Be6. After 23. Rf6 Qh7! 24. Qxh7+ Kxh7 25. Rxh6+ Kxh6 26. Rf6+ Kg5 27. Rxe6 Rd8!, White would retain only a slight edge, with a draw the most likely outcome. Instead, Praggnanandhaa played 22…Bd7?, and after 23. Rf7! Qxf7 24. Rxf7 Kxf7 25. Qf4+! Kg7 26. Qg5+! Kh7 27. Qe7+!, Sindarov decisively picked up the bishop on d7 and converted the position with ease. In the post-game press conference, Sindarov remained composed: “I think I am very close, but I still have two important games with Black. I’m just trying not to think about it and to play good chess as always.” He also shared his coach’s advice: “If I deserve the title, I will get it, so don’t think about the result. And if I don’t, we will keep working toward it.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evKS78ydeto Beating Praggnanandhaa is no small feat. Praggnanandhaa is known for his resilience and preparation, so a decisive win suggests Sindarov is not just leading, but doing so with real authority. A two-point lead with four rounds remaining is massive in a Candidates tournament; at this level, even a one-point cushion is often decisive. If Sindarov maintains composure, he’s now the clear favourite to win the event and potentially earn a shot at the World Championship. The other three games ended in remarkably solid draws, with accuracy levels nearing 98% and virtually no mistakes: an afternoon of near-perfect chess. Anish Giri and Hikaru Nakamura opted for a fashionable Exchange Variation of the Queen’s Gambit. Giri managed to secure a slight initiative, but Nakamura defended precisely and neutralized any real chances. Andrey Esipenko failed to generate anything tangible with White against Matthias Bluebaum’s reliable Petroff Defence. After a series of exchanges, the game quickly simplified into a symmetrical position, and a draw was agreed without much fuss. In the third game, Wei Yi tested the 4.Nge2 line against Fabiano Caruana’s French Winawer. Although Wei Yi obtained a slight edge thanks to the bishop pair in a queenless middlegame, Caruana’s defensive technique was impeccable, and the point was eventually shared. On the women’s side, the tournament remains far more dynamic. Vaishali’s hold on the lead is impressive, but with Bibisara Assaubayeva and Aleksandra Goryachkina closing in after their victories, the race is very much alive. Goryachkina, in particular, brings a wealth of top-level experience – including a Women’s World Championship match – and is always a serious threat in the closing stages of an event. Vaishali comfortably held Anna Muzychuk to a draw with the black pieces, in a game that featured flawless play from both sides, without a single inaccuracy. Meanwhile, Kateryna Lagno did manage to obtain a slight edge against Tan Zhongyi, who surprised with the offbeat O’Kelly Sicilian. However, Lagno misplayed a tricky endgame, allowing Tan Zhongyi to once again demonstrate her excellent defensive technique and secure the draw. The two games producing decisive outcomes followed very different trajectories. The encounter between Divya Deshmukh and Aleksandra Goryachkina had been balanced for most of the game, but around move sixty, already under time pressure, Divya committed a critical endgame mistake and paid a heavy price. Goryachkina was understandably delighted to score her first win of the tournament and was all smiles in her interview afterward: “I can’t remember a tournament in which I haven’t won at least one game in the first nine rounds. I’m happy to be winning again,” she said. Another key result of the day was Bibisara Assaubayeva’s victory over Zhu Jiner, who had started the round as co-leader. The game remained roughly balanced for a long time, but as the time control approached, Zhu Jiner chose an inaccurate plan and her position quickly began to deteriorate. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbYYRjvimC4 After a relatively quiet stretch, Assaubayeva now appears to be regaining momentum and could well emerge as a serious late contender if she manages to string together a few more wins. Standings after Round 10 Boris Gelfand delighted fans this afternoon with a simultaneous exhibition, followed by an engaging Q&A session. He delivered an outstanding