Javokhir Sindarov Takes Lead in Candidates Tournament After Win Over Caruana

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbek grandmaster Javokhir Sindarov emerged as the sole leader of the 2026 Candidates Tournament in Cyprus after defeating American Fabiano Caruana in the fourth round.

Prior to their encounter, both players had scored 2.5 points out of 3. Sindarov’s victory brought him to 3.5 points out of 4, taking the top spot in the tournament standings.

The game concluded on the 36th move. Playing with the white pieces, Sindarov maintained control throughout, leveraging a time advantage to outplay one of the tournament favorites. The decisive moment came mid-game when Caruana made a misstep, allowing Sindarov to seize the initiative and steadily increase pressure, leaving his opponent with no realistic chances to recover.

This win marks Sindarov’s third victory in the tournament and strengthens his contention for the overall title. In the fifth round on April 3, he is scheduled to face American grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura, playing with the black pieces.

The 2026 Candidates Tournament, held from March 29 to April 15 in Cyprus, features eight of the world’s top grandmasters, including Nakamura, Caruana, and debutant Sindarov. Competitors play a double round-robin for a total prize fund of €500,000 and the right to challenge reigning World Champion Indian grandmaster Dommaraju Gukesh.

The tournament follows classical time controls, with draws prohibited before the 40th move. The round winner earns €48,000, and participants receive €3,500 for each half-point scored.