FIDE Candidates 2026 R3: Caruana wins against Wei Yi, Sindarov beats Praggnanandhaa

by Devansh Singh - 01/04/2026

The 3rd round at the FIDE Candidates 2026 was filled with exciting chess and 4 decisive results. In the Open section, Fabiano Caruana won a miniature game against Wei Yi in just 19 moves to gain the joint lead with Javokhir Sindarov, who won his game against R Praggnanandhaa after sacrificing material in the opening itself. In the Women's section, Kateryna Lagno won a beautiful game against Tan Zhongyi, and Zhu Jiner missed her chances against Bibisara Assaubayeva, and the latter prevailed and won the game to get the joint lead. Round 4 will start on 1st April at 15:45 Local Time/18:15 IST. Photos: Michal Walusza, Yoav Nis/ FIDE

Divya survives a scare, Jiner misses another chance

It was a day full of chaos on the board at FIDE Candidates 2026. Divya Deshmukh was in a completely lost position against Aleksandra Goryachkina in a rook endgame, but she managed to hold her nerves and drew the game. Against Tan Zhongyi, Kateryna Lagno won one of the most beautiful games she has ever played. Zhu Jiner, who performed better in all 3 games she played, blundered and lost to Bibisara Assaubayeva.

When you know you messed up | Photo: Michal Walusza

Javokhir Sindarov Sacrificed material and played some brilliant chess to outplay R Praggnanandhaa, Wei Yi blundered against Caruana, and he lost in just 19 moves, making it one of the easiest games for Fabiano to win.

Fabiano Caruana at the press conference after winning against Wei Yi | Photo: Yoav Nis

Open Section

In the Open section, there were 2 decisive results, and both games were opposite in nature. Fabiano Caruana won a miniature game against Wei Yi, trapping his bishop, and Wei Yi resigned. While in the game between R Praggnanandhaa and Javokhir Sindarov, Sindarov sacrificed and managed to win the game. The other two games between Hikaru Nakamura vs Anish Giri and Matthias Bluebaum vs Andrey Esipenko ended in a solid draw.

After 3 rounds of play at the FIDE Candidates 2026, there are now 2 players leading - Javokhir Sindarov and Fabiano Caruana. Both of them scored wins in round 3, moving to 2.5/3 points. They will face each other in the 4th round.

Javokhir Sindarov started the event in style with 2.5/3 | Photo: Michal Walusza

Fabiano Caruana vs Wei Yi (1-0)

Wei Yi played an interesting line, sacrificing 2 of his pawns for better activity out of the opening, but he blundered and missed a tactical sequence, and got his bishop trapped.

The position is looking playable for black as Wei Yi completed his development and white is struggling to develop his pieces, but in the above position Wei Yi played 17...Ne5 allowing 18.Nxe5 Bxe5 followed by a very nice looking knight retreat move 19.Nd1! trapping the bishop on h3 and attacking it with the queen on b3. Check out the full game below

Fabiano Caruana vs Wei Yi | Photo: Michal Walusza

Interview with Fabiano Caruana | Video: ChessBase India

R Praggnanandhaa vs Javokhir Sindarov (0-1)

The battle between two young talents went as expected; both players showed great fighting spirit. On one hand, Sindarov sacrificed his knight in the opening to get a comfortable position; on the other hand, Praggnanandhaa defended really well, but under time pressure, he made some huge mistakes, and the game slipped away.

R Praggnanandhaa vs Javokhir Sindarov, position after 13.b4

Praggnanandhaa attacked black's bishop on c5, and Sindarov decided to sacrifice his knight and played 13.Nxb4 axb4 14. Bxb4, which forces the white king to stay in the center

Tough day for Praggnanandhaa | Photo: Michal Walusza

In time pressure, Praggnanandhaa played 33.c5, allowing 33.Rxc5 and a tactical combination that leads to a winning position for Sindarov

R Praggnanandhaa vs Javokhir Sindarov (0-1) | Photo: Michal Walusza

Check out all that happened in the exciting clash between Praggnanandhaa and Javokhir Sindarov in Round 3 of the FIDE Candidates 2026, along with a special post-game interview!

Hikaru and Anish played solid chess and drew their game | Photo: Michal Walusza

Andrey Esipenko had slightly favorable positions with the Black pieces against Matthias Bluebaum today, but the game ended in a draw. | Photo: Michal Walusza

Round 3 Result | Graphic: FIDE

Standings after round 3 | Graphic: FIDE

Round 4 Pairings:

Replay games of the Open section

Women's Section

In the Women's section, Kateryna Lagno won her game against Tan Zhongyi with black pieces, while Bibisara survived a tough position and eventually won her game against Zhu Jiner to get the joint lead. Vaishali Rameshbabu played a solid draw against Anna Muzychuk, and Divya Deshmukh survived a tough endgame against Aleksandra Goryachkina. Divya is going to face Zhu Jiner in round 4.

Lagno is in a joint lead after winning against Zhongyi | Photo: Michal Walusza

Tan Zhongyi vs Kateryna Lagno (0-1)

A game filled with beautiful combinations and tactics, played by Kateryna Lagno. Tan Zhongyi went all in for the kingside attack, but her king was suffering in the center. It was a game with ups and downs as well. In some positions, Tan Zhongyi was clearly winning, and then he fell for a beautiful combination set up by Lagno. Check out the position below.

responding to 41.Rf6, Tan Zhongyi made a huge blunder and captured the pawn on d5, allowing 42.Nf4+ with a beautiful continuation and winning the queen. Check out the game below

Tan Zhongyi vs Kateryna Lagno (0-1) | Photo: Michal Walusza

Zhu Jiner vs Bibisara Assaubayeva (0-1)

Bibisara got into serious trouble out of the opening against Zhu Jiner, but managed to find her way out. Soon, she got a winning advantage and went on to convert smoothly!

Divya Deshmukh drew against Aleksandra Goryachkina. The position was really bad from the opening for Divya, and she was losing in the rook endgame, but a few mistakes by Goryachkina and the resilience of Divya helped her secure a draw. | Photo: Michal Walusza

Vaishali and Anna Muzychuk played a solid draw | Photo: Michal Walusza

Round 3 Result | Graphic: FIDE

Standings after round 3 | Graphic: FIDE

Round 4 Pairing

Replay games of the Women's section

Photo Gallery: ChessBase India, FIDE

Parallels!! | Photo: Michal Walusza

When other games are more exciting than yours | Photo: Michal Walusza

Guess the player? | Photo: Michal Walusza

Focused as always | Photo: Michal Walusza

Bibisara is in a great mood after winning against Jiner | Photo: Michal Walusza

Divya showed her resistance today and saved the dead lost position | Photo: Michal Walusza

He is coming for the title.... | Photo: Yoav Nis

Videos:

Check out the initial moments of Round 3 at the FIDE Candidates 2026 | Video: ChesBase India

Check out a detailed recap by IM Sagar Shah and Amruta Mokal of the 3rd round in the FIDE Candidates 2026 | Video: ChesBase India

Watch Live Stream by IM Sagar Shah and Amruta Mokal from Cyprus | Video: ChesBase India

Pairings: Round 4

Graphic: FIDE

Venue: Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort, Cyprus

Official FIDE partner for Candidates 2026 | Photo: FIDE Chess

The multi-award-winning Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort has been selected by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) as the ideal destination to host the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026, an event of historic and international significance. This selection represents the highest recognition both for Cyprus and for Cap St Georges Hotel& Resort, affirming the prestige, reliability, and organizational excellence required to host a world-class chess tournament. Surrounded by landscaped gardens with centuries-old olive trees, the resort reflects the island’s character through refined architecture and well-designed spaces, with a strong focus on privacy, comfort, and attentive service.

Both tournaments are held side by side at the Cap St Georges Hotel and Resort in Cyprus, a five-star coastal venue near Paphos. The resort offers a calm and professional setting for elite competition, with the playing hall, accommodation, and preparation areas located within the same complex, allowing players to focus fully on the event. Photo Gallery of Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort

Enjoy an amazing venue tour of the FIDE Candidates 2026 in Cyprus, happening at the Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort in Paphos. Sagar and Amruta give an extensive tour. Enjoy!

Schedule and Format

Each tournament features eight of the world’s strongest players competing in a double round-robin format over fourteen rounds of classical chess. All the games will start at 15:30 Local Time/18:15 IST

Key details and Information

Two tournaments will be held side by side – the (Open) FIDE Candidates Tournament and the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament.

Format: In both the Open and the Women’s, the eight qualified players will compete in a double round-robin tournament, consisting of 14 rounds.

Time control: The games will be played with a time control of 120 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from move 41.

Prize fund: The minimum prize fund for the event stands at a record €1,000,000.

Tie-breaks: In the event of a tie for first place after 14 rounds, a playoff will be held to determine the winner who qualifies for the World Championship Match, which will take place in November 2026.