FIDE Candidates 2026: Praggnanandhaa Draws, Divya Deshmukh Loses as Sindarov Surges

R Praggnanandhaa played out a hard-fought draw against Matthias Bluebaum in the fourth round of the FIDE Candidates Tournament, maintaining a steady position in the open section of the prestigious event. The Indian Grandmaster, who began his campaign with strong performances, opted for a balanced approach in the round, ensuring he avoided further setbacks after his loss in the previous game.

In the women’s section, it was a mixed day for Indian players as Divya Deshmukh suffered a defeat against Zhu Jiner, while R Vaishali secured a draw against Aleksandra Goryachkina. The results reflected the intense level of competition in the tournament, where even minor inaccuracies can significantly impact outcomes.

Meanwhile, Javokhir Sindarov continued his impressive run in the open section, registering his third victory of the tournament. Sindarov defeated Fabiano Caruana with a well-prepared opening strategy, strengthening his position as a leading contender for the title and taking a major step toward potential qualification.

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Praggnanandhaa’s draw comes after a challenging third round, where he faced defeat against Sindarov. Despite the setback, the young Indian grandmaster has shown resilience throughout the tournament, having earlier secured a notable victory over Dutch grandmaster Anish Giri in the opening round, which had boosted his early standings.

In the women’s Candidates, Zhu Jiner’s win helped her regain momentum in the standings, while Anna Muzychuk also recorded a crucial victory. Muzychuk now shares the lead with Bibisara Assaubayeva, intensifying the race at the top of the leaderboard as the tournament progresses.

With several rounds still to be played, the Candidates Tournament remains wide open across both sections, with players battling not only for wins but also for consistency and psychological advantage. For the Indian contingent, the focus will be on capitalising on upcoming opportunities and staying in contention in one of the most competitive events in international chess.

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