Candidates R1: Caruana, Pragg and Sindarov score in exciting first round

by Carlos Alberto Colodro
3/30/2026 – The 2026 Candidates Tournament kicked off in style, with three decisive results from four games, all in favour of the player with the white piece. Fabiano Caruana defeated Hikaru Nakamura in the all-American clash between top seeds, while Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu and Javokhir Sindarov scored wins of different nature over Anish Giri and Andrey Esipenko, respectively. The only draw came in Matthias Bluebaum v. Wei Yi. | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza
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Caruana prevails in all-American opener

The Candidates Tournament began in Cyprus, where eight players have started their campaign to earn the right to challenge Gukesh Dommaraju for the world title.

The opening round produced a combative set of games, reflecting a willingness among the participants to take risks in pursuit of the top prize. Three players return from the 2024 edition - Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana and Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu - with Nakamura and Caruana also entering as the top two seeds.

As per the pairing rules, players from the same country faced each other in round one, which made the all-American clash between Caruana and Nakamura the most anticipated encounter of the day. Notably, this is the only pairing of compatriots in the event. In the previous edition, only five countries were represented, with three players from India joining the two Americans, whereas this year's field spans seven different federations.

Round 1 results

FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026

The open and women's sections take place side by side | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

The headline match between Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura delivered a long and complex struggle. Caruana, playing white, sought the initiative from the outset, willingly accepting structural concessions in return for dynamic possibilities.

Caruana's approach paid dividends as the game transitioned into a middlegame featuring major pieces and opposite-coloured bishops, a configuration that increasingly favoured his side. He eventually won a pawn and later simplified into a pure opposite-coloured bishop endgame which was objectively winning.

Nakamura continued to resist and, after Caruana faltered on move 77, obtained a concrete chance to save the game. However, he failed to find the precise king manoeuvre required to secure a draw, and the position soon collapsed, forcing his resignation.

In his post-game remarks, Caruana noted that he was "a little embarrassed" at having allowed his advantage to slip so close to a draw.

Game analysis by Daniel King

Hikaru Nakamura

Hikaru Nakamura dealt with a tough position for a long time - and was inches away from escaping with a draw | Photo: FIDE Michal Walusza

Pragg's clean win

A more straightforward victory was recorded by Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, who defeated Anish Giri with the white pieces. Opting for the Grand Prix Attack - a system seldom employed at the highest level - Pragg obtained a stable initiative and gradually increased the pressure.

His play was controlled throughout, and he converted his advantage in exemplary fashion, as Giri never quite managed to equalise the position.

Game analysis by Daniel King

Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu

In the zone - Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Sindarov outplays Esipenko in time trouble

The game between debutants Javokhir Sindarov and Andrey Esipenko provided the most volatile contest of the round. Emerging from an Exchange Variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined, the players entered a tense and tactically rich middlegame.

Esipenko, with the black pieces, managed to obtain a clear positional edge, but the balance shifted dramatically in mutual time trouble. His decision to capture an opposing knight proved to be a turning point, after which further inaccuracies allowed Sindarov to seize the initiative.

Demonstrating composure under pressure, the Uzbek grandmaster converted his chances and secured the full point.

Game analysis by Daniel King

Javokhir Sindarov

Javokhir Sindarov climbed to world number 10 in the live ratings list after beating Andrey Esipenko | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

The one draw of the day

The only draw of the round occurred in the encounter between Matthias Bluebaum and Wei Yi. Bluebaum emerged from the opening with a significant advantage on the clock, having steered the game into a line which apparently surprised his opponent.

Wei Yi responded by investing time to identify the correct setup, and his approach proved effective. The Chinese star eventually sacrificed a rook, all but forcing a sequence that led to a draw by perpetual check.

Matthias Bluebaum

Matthias Bluebaum | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Standings after round 1

All games

In this video course, experts including Dorian Rogozenco, Mihail Marin, Karsten Müller and Oliver Reeh, examine the games of Boris Spassky. Let them show you which openings Spassky chose to play, where his strength in middlegames were and much more.

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Topics: Candidates 2026
Carlos Colodro is a Hispanic Philologist from Bolivia. He works as a freelance translator and writer since 2012. A lot of his work is done in chess-related texts, as the game is one of his biggest interests, along with literature and music.
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Women's Candidates R1: Four draws, Zhu and Goryachkina miss big chances

3/30/2026 – The Women's Candidates began in Pegeia with four draws in round one, though the games featured a number of missed chances. The event, held alongside the open section for a second time, brings together five returning players from 2024 and three young talents. Early pairings included two all-national encounters, while late changes following Humpy Koneru's withdrawal altered the draw. Time pressure and opening surprises marked the first day of action. | Pictured: Aleksandra Goryachkina | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

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3/29/2026 – 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.
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