Candidates R2: Standings unchanged after four draws in Cyprus

by Carlos Alberto Colodro
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
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Caruana, Praggnanandhaa and Sindarov remain co-leaders

Following an opening round that produced three decisive results, the second round of the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus saw all four games ending in draws. The results left the standings unchanged, with Fabiano Caruana, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu and Javokhir Sindarov sharing the lead on 1½/2 points.

The next round will feature the first direct encounter between co-leaders, as Pragg is set to face Sindarov with the white pieces, while Caruana will also have white against Wei Yi. Wei and Matthias Bluebaum remain the only players yet to play a decisive game, both standing on 1 point after two draws, while Hikaru Nakamura, Anish Giri and Andrey Esipenko are on ½/2 following losses in round one.

The four draws reflected a high level of preparation across the field. Some players opted for lesser-known sidelines in an attempt to surprise their opponents, while others - particularly with the black pieces - chose more restrained setups designed to neutralise early pressure. The games remained largely balanced throughout, and there were no clear missed opportunities that might have altered the outcome.

Round 2 results

FIDE Candidates 2026

The live audience gets to sit quite close to the action | Photo: FIDE / Yoav Nis

For the second consecutive day, Nakamura was involved in the longest game of the round. After a painful loss to Caruana in round one, the top seed once again had black, this time against Esipenko. Esipenko's opening preparation allowed him to secure a slight yet stable advantage in the middlegame.

Nakamura, recognised for his technical ability, chose a pragmatic approach by simplifying the position into a rook endgame despite being a pawn down.

The multiple US champion then demonstrated precise defensive technique to hold the position and secure a draw, thereby steadying his tournament after the opening setback.

Video analysis by GM Daniel King

Andrey Esipenko, Hikaru Nakamura

Andrey Esipenko facing Hikaru Nakamura | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

The only player to obtain an advantage with the black pieces was Praggnanandhaa, who employed the French Defence in his game against Wei. Pragg built up a clear advantage on the clock and generated some initiative on the board.

However, as in his first-round game, Wei relied on concrete calculation to navigate the complications. The Chinese grandmaster gradually neutralised the pressure and eventually steered the game towards a draw.

For a second consecutive day, Wei encountered difficulties in the opening phase but managed to emerge unscathed thanks to his methodical approach.

Wei Yi

A great calculator - Wei Yi | Photo: FIDE / Yoav Nis

In the encounter between Bluebaum and Sindarov, Bluebaum adopted the Petroff Defence with black. Sindarov, rather than pressing aggressively for a second consecutive win, chose not to force matters with risky continuations - an approach that drew attention from commentator Peter Svidler, who suggested that Sindarov's ability to handle complex positions might have been well suited to a more ambitious strategy.

Although the Uzbek GM obtained some initiative in the middlegame, Bluebaum maintained control and held a relatively comfortable draw in his first game with the black pieces.

Javokhir Sindarov, Matthias Bluebaum

Draw agreed | Photo: Yoav Nis

The shortest game of the round took place between Giri and Caruana. Caruana, playing black, opted for a rare third move, perhaps with the intention of taking his opponent out of preparation from an early stage. However, Giri, one of the strongest theoreticians at elite level, reacted accurately and made the most of the slightly dubious choice.

Caruana soon found himself needing to play precisely in order to equalise, which he managed successfully.

A sequence of simplifications beginning on move 17 led to a completely level endgame, and the players soon agreed to a draw.

Anish Giri, Fabiano Caruana

Long-time rivals and colleagues - Anish Giri and Fabiano Caruana right after their round-two encounter was agreed drawn | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Standings after round 2

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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