4/9/2026 – Head-to-head records between the participants of the Candidates Tournaments provide useful context for each pairing. Drawing on data compiled via Mega Database 2026, the key statistics from past encounters highlight imbalances and trends. While such figures are not decisive, they offer an additional perspective on how rivalries have developed before a tournament that will determine the next challenger for the world title.

4/9/2026 – Vaishali Rameshbabu and Zhu Jiner are sharing the lead after round nine of the Women's Candidates Tournament, following wins over Divya Deshmukh and Kateryna Lagno, respectively. Anna Muzychuk drew her game against Tan Zhongyi despite holding a positional advantage and now stands in sole third place, half a point behind. Deshmukh and Lagno trail by another half point, with five rounds remaining and the contest for first place still closely contested. | Photo: FIDE / Niki Riga

4/9/2026 – Anish Giri moved into sole second place at the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus after defeating Fabiano Caruana with the black pieces in Wednesday's ninth round. Leader Javokhir Sindarov was held to a draw by Matthias Bluebaum after missing winning chances, leaving him 1½ points ahead of Giri. The remaining two games were drawn, including a tense encounter in which Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu failed to convert a clear advantage against Wei Yi. | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

4/8/2026 – Head-to-head records between the participants of the Candidates Tournaments provide useful context for each pairing. Drawing on data compiled via Mega Database 2026, the key statistics from past encounters highlight imbalances and trends. While such figures are not decisive, they offer an additional perspective on how rivalries have developed before a tournament that will determine the next challenger for the world title.

4/8/2026 – Three decisive games in round eight left five players tied for the lead in the Women's Candidates Tournament. Divya Deshmukh defeated former sole leader Anna Muzychuk, who had held a clearly superior position before letting the game slip. Kateryna Lagno and Zhu Jiner also scored wins and joined the leading group. With the standings tightly grouped, the next round will feature two direct clashes between co-leaders. | Photo: FIDE / Yoav Nis

4/8/2026 – Javokhir Sindarov extended his lead at the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus despite only scoring a draw against Andrey Esipenko in round eight, as Fabiano Caruana, his long-time closest chaser, lost to Hikaru Nakamura. Meanwhile, Anish Giri beat Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu to join Caruana in second place. With six rounds remaining, Sindarov now leads by two points over his closest rivals. | Photo: FIDE / Yoav Nis

4/7/2026 – Head-to-head records between the participants of the Candidates Tournaments provide useful context for each pairing. Drawing on data compiled via Mega Database 2026, the key statistics from past encounters highlight imbalances and trends. While such figures are not decisive, they offer an additional perspective on how rivalries have developed before a tournament that will determine the next challenger for the world title.

4/6/2026 – Anna Muzychuk leads the Women's Candidates Tournament at the halfway stage with 4½/7 after drawing a quiet game with Bibisara Assaubayeva in round seven. Vaishali Rameshbabu secured the only win of the day, capitalising on a late mistake by Tan Zhongyi to move into sole second place. The other games saw long, hard-fought draws, including a 135-move marathon between Divya Deshmukh and Kateryna Lagno. | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

4/6/2026 – Javokhir Sindarov reached the halfway point of the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus with a 1½-point lead after drawing Anish Giri from a position of strength in round seven. Meanwhile, Wei Yi scored his first win of the event with a sharp attacking performance against Andrey Esipenko. The remaining two games were drawn, leaving Fabiano Caruana as Sindarov's closest pursuer going into the second half. | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

4/5/2026 – Head-to-head records between the participants of the Candidates Tournaments provide useful context for each pairing. Drawing on data compiled via Mega Database 2026, the key statistics from past encounters highlight imbalances and trends. While such figures are not decisive, they offer an additional perspective on how rivalries have developed before a tournament that will determine the next challenger for the world title.

4/5/2026 – Anna Muzychuk moved into the sole lead at the Women's Candidates after defeating Zhu Jiner with the black pieces, opening a one-point gap in the standings. Bibisara Assaubayeva suffered a second consecutive loss, while Aleksandra Goryachkina was held to a draw despite getting winning chances. Vaishali Rameshbabu and Divya Deshmukh scored their first wins of the event. | Photo: FIDE / Yoav Nis

4/5/2026 – Javokhir Sindarov's astonishing run continued in round six of the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus, as he defeated Wei Yi with the black pieces to reach 5½/6. The 20-year-old now leads by 1½ points over Fabiano Caruana, with the rest of the field even further behind. The remaining three games were drawn, leaving Sindarov as the clear frontrunner ahead of the final round of the event's first half. | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

4/4/2026 – Head-to-head records between the participants of the Candidates Tournaments provide useful context for each pairing. Drawing on data compiled via Mega Database 2026, the key statistics from past encounters highlight imbalances and trends. While such figures are not decisive, they offer an additional perspective on how rivalries have developed before a tournament that will determine the next challenger for the world title.

4/4/2026 – Three players share the lead after five rounds at the Women's Candidates Tournament, with Zhu Jiner and Kateryna Lagno joining Anna Muzychuk on 3/5. Both Zhu and Lagno scored their second wins of the event, while Muzychuk agreed a quick draw with Aleksandra Goryachkina, who remains unbeaten with five draws. Tan Zhongyi and Divya Deshmukh also split the point in a balanced game, leaving the standings tightly packed with all eight players separated by just one point. | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

4/4/2026 – Javokhir Sindarov's formidable start continued in round five of the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus, as he defeated top seed Hikaru Nakamura with the black pieces to reach a 4½/5 score. Fabiano Caruana also won, beating Matthias Bluebaum to remain one point behind. The decisive games saw Nakamura and Bluebaum faltering in the opening phase. The remaining two encounters ended drawn. | Photo: FIDE / Yoav Nis

4/3/2026 – Head-to-head records between the participants of the Candidates Tournaments provide useful context for each pairing. Drawing on data compiled via Mega Database 2026, the key statistics from past encounters highlight imbalances and trends. While such figures are not decisive, they offer an additional perspective on how rivalries have developed before a tournament that will determine the next challenger for the world title.

4/2/2026 – Anna Muzychuk and Bibisara Assaubayeva share the lead after round four of the Women's Candidates Tournament, following two decisive games on Wednesday: Muzychuk defeated Kateryna Lagno, while Zhu Jiner overcame Divya Deshmukh. Assaubayeva missed chances to take sole first place in her draw with Tan Zhongyi, while Vaishali Rameshbabu held Aleksandra Goryachkina after facing early pressure. | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

4/2/2026 – A clear leader has emerged after four rounds of the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus. Javokhir Sindarov defeated Fabiano Caruana in the clash of co-leaders to move to 3½ out of 4, with a full-point lead over his closest chaser. Anish Giri also won, beating Andrey Esipenko with black to return to a fift-percent score, while the remaining two games were drawn ahead of the tournament's first rest day. | Photo: FIDE / Yoav Nis

4/1/2026 – Head-to-head records between the participants of the Candidates Tournaments provide useful context for each pairing. Drawing on data compiled via Mega Database 2026, the key statistics from past encounters highlight imbalances and trends. While such figures are not decisive, they offer an additional perspective on how rivalries have developed before a tournament that will determine the next challenger for the world title.

4/1/2026 – Two decisive games in round three of the Women's Candidates Tournament saw Bibisara Assaubayeva and Kateryna Lagno move into the lead. Assaubayeva capitalised on tactical complications to defeat Zhu Jiner, who had again obtained a promising position, while Lagno overcame Tan Zhongyi after a wild encounter featuring a number of blunders and tactical shots. Aleksandra Goryachkina pressed throughout but could not convert against Divya Deshmukh, while Vaishali Rameshbabu's game against Anna Muzychuk ended in a controlled draw. | Photo: FIDE / Yoav Nis

4/1/2026 – Two players have already established a clear lead after three rounds of the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus. Fabiano Caruana and Javokhir Sindarov both secured their second wins to move a full point ahead of the field. Caruana defeated Wei Yi following an uncharacteristic pair of errors by the Chinese grandmaster, while Sindarov overcame Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu in a double-edged struggle. | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

3/31/2026 – Head-to-head records between the participants of the Candidates Tournaments provide useful context for each pairing. Drawing on data compiled via Mega Database 2026, the key statistics from past encounters highlight imbalances and trends. While such figures are not decisive, they offer an additional perspective on how rivalries have developed before a tournament that will determine the next challenger for the world title.

3/31/2026 – Missed opportunities remained a recurring theme in round two of the Women's Candidates, where all four games again ended in draws. Zhu Jiner obtained a clearly superior position against Kateryna Lagno but failed to convert, allowing a perpetual check to save the game. In the all-Indian encounter, Divya Deshmukh (pictured) also let an advantage slip after overlooking a tactical resource by Vaishali Rameshbabu. | Photo: FIDE / Yoav Nis

3/31/2026 – All four games in round two of the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus ended in draws, leaving the standings unchanged. Fabiano Caruana, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu and Javokhir Sindarov remain tied for the lead on 1½/2 points. Pragg and Andrey Esipenko got the best chances to fight for more than a draw on Monday, but saw their opponents successfully keeping things under control. Round three will see a clash of co-leaders, as Pragg is set to play white against Sindarov. | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza