Candidates R14: Sindarov achieves record-breaking score, Giri and Caruana grab wins

4/16/2026 – Javokhir Sindarov concluded the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus with a quick draw against Wei Yi, finishing on 10/14 and recording the highest score of the modern Candidates era. Anish Giri secured sole second place by beating Matthias Bluebaum, while Fabiano Caruana ended the event in third after defeating Andrey Esipenko. Sindarov gained more than 30 rating points and climbed to fifth place in the live ratings list. | Photo: ChessBase / Nils Rohde

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A memorable performance

Javokhir Sindarov concluded his remarkable Candidates Tournament campaign with a quick draw against Wei Yi in the final round, securing the highest score of the modern Candidates era. Having already clinched first place with a round to spare, the Uzbek grandmaster needed only a draw to finish on 10/14, surpassing the previous benchmark in the double round-robin era that began in 2013. The game itself lasted less than ten minutes, with the players reaching a threefold repetition after 31 moves.

Sindarov's performance in Cyprus was exceptional. He scored six wins and eight draws, remained undefeated throughout the event and gained 30.6 rating points, climbing to fifth place in the live ratings list. He now trails only Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana and compatriot Nodirbek Abdusattorov. The gap between Sindarov and Nakamura has narrowed to 16 rating points, after the American lost 18.4 points during the tournament.

After commentating alongside Jan Gustafsson throughout the event, Peter Svidler described Sindarov's tournament as "overwhelming, flabbergasting and fab". Svidler also called this edition of the Candidates "one for the ages", suggesting that Sindarov's dominant triumph is likely to be remembered for a long time.

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Javokhir Sindarov

A post-tournament interview with the champion | Photo: ChessBase / Nils Rohde

Javokhir Sindarov

Javokhir Sindarov signing autographs | Photo: ChessBase / Nils Rohde

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The other quick draw of the day came between Nakamura and Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu. Although the opening was sharp, it was clear that both players had analysed the line deeply in advance, and the game ended by repetition after 33 moves.

Two games ended decisively. Caruana finished the event on a positive note by defeating Andrey Esipenko with the black pieces in a Sicilian Defence.

The victory allowed Caruana to secure sole third place with 7½/14. Given that he entered the event as one of the main favourites, the result is likely to be seen as disappointing, especially after he had started strongly before fading in the second half. Nevertheless, Caruana remains one of the leading players in the world.

Notably, Caruana has now played in all six Candidates Tournaments held since 2016. He won the event in 2018 and famously drew all twelve classical games against Carlsen in the subsequent World Championship match before losing in rapid tiebreaks. Ranked third in the world, he remains one of the perennial elite players who have repeatedly come close to the title match without ultimately becoming world champion.

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Fabiano Caruana

Fabiano Caruana | Photo: ChessBase /Nils Rohde

Anish Giri also ended the tournament with a win, defeating Bluebaum after the German adopted a more adventurous approach than usual. Giri took advantage of the imbalances and converted his chances to finish alone in second place. Coincidentally, Giri and Bluebaum were the only two players apart from Sindarov to gain rating points in Cyprus.

This was Giri's third appearance in a Candidates Tournament and clearly his strongest. He ended with four wins and only one loss in fourteen rounds. His previous Candidates performances had also been rather positive: he scored 7/14 in 2016, when he famously drew all fourteen games, and 7½/14 in the 2020-21 edition, when he remained in contention for the top places throughout much of the tournament.

After the final round, Giri quipped that his second-place finish might at least provide useful FIDE Circuit points towards qualification for the next Candidates.

Bluebaum, meanwhile, entered the event as the lowest-rated participant and relied on consistent, solid play to score 6/14 points, drawing twelve games and losing only twice. Although he never entered the fight for first place, his performance should give him confidence going forward.

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