Candidates Round 5: Sindarov Soars, Caruana Keeps Pace, and 3-way Tie in Women's

Round 5 of the 2026 FIDE Candidates and Women’s Candidates tournaments brought four decisive results, reinforcing rather than dramatically reshaping the standings.

In the Open, the main storyline continues to be the outstanding play of 20-year-old Uzbek GM Javokhir Sindarov, who remains in clear first place with a 4½/5 score. While GM Fabiano Caruana delivered an important win to stay within striking distance, it was once again Sindarov who took the spotlight and won with the black pieces against one of the tournament favorites, GM Hikaru Nakamura.

In the Women’s Candidates, GMs Kateryna Lagno and Zhu Jiner joined GM Anna Muzychuk in the lead after scoring full points, creating a three-way tie at the top and keeping the race tightly contested, with several players still within reach of the leaders.

OPEN: Sindarov Keeps Rolling

Sindarov Defeats Nakamura, Extends Lead

The first key game of the round featured Nakamura against the tournament leader. Many expected a serious test — if not a comeback — for Nakamura.

FIDE Continental President for the Americas Jose Carrilo Pujol makes the ceremonial first move for Nakamura. (Photo courtesy FIDE/Michal Walusza)

Instead, Sindarov once again rose to the challenge, handling the position with confidence and precision. Nakamura, playing White, chose an ambitious and bold approach, entering a sharp gambit and playing for a direct attack.

However, after a 67-minute think at a critical moment, he selected an aggressive continuation that ultimately did not hold up.

A dejected Nakamura resigns down three pawns. (Photo courtesy FIDE/Michal Walusza)

Sindarov showed impressive opening preparation and composure. With precise play, he neutralized White’s initiative and guided the game into a winning endgame.

What stands out is not just the result, but the consistency. Sindarov reached 4½/5, maintaining clear control of the tournament.

The last face you want to see across the board in Cyprus! (Photo courtesy FIDE/Michal Walusza)

His play combines strong preparation with confident decision-making — a notable achievement given that this is his first Candidates tournament appearance.

Caruana Strikes Back with Preparation

After a difficult loss in the previous round, Caruana faced GM Matthias Bluebaum with the White pieces. Bluebaum had been solid so far, having drawn all four of his previous games. Choosing a sideline against the well-known Petroff, Caruana steered the game into less familiar territory early on.

Photo courtesy FIDE/Michal Walusza

The game quickly took on a one-sided character. Caruana built a comfortable position with active pieces and long-term pressure, while Bluebaum struggled to find coordination. As the middlegame progressed, the imbalance only grew, and Caruana converted confidently.

Caruana notched his third win in five games, and yet he still has to be mindful of others' games. (Photo courtesy FIDE/Michal Walusza)

From a broader perspective, this was exactly the type of game Caruana needed. His preparation worked, he put his opponent under pressure without taking unnecessary risks, and he converted efficiently when the chances appeared.

Caruana with fans after his win. (Photo courtesy FIDE/Michal Walusza)

With this win, he remains within striking distance of the leader, keeping his tournament hopes very much alive.

Solid Draws Keep the Standings Stable

The remaining two games in the open section — Praggnanandhaa–Giri and Wei Yi – Esipenko — both ended in draws. Neither game featured major swings, and both were played with a high level of control.

Graphic courtesy of FIDE

As a result, the overall standings at the top remain largely unchanged, with Sindarov maintaining his full-point lead and Caruana continuing as the closest challenger.

Women’s Candidates: Leaders Emerge in Three-Way Tie

In the Women’s Candidates, Lagno defeated co-leader Assaubayeva while Zhu scored against GM Vaishali Rameshbabu. These results brought both players level with Muzychuk at the top, creating a three-way tie and keeping the race highly competitive.

Lagno Punishes Overextension

Lagno scored an important win with the white pieces against Assaubayeva in a sharp Accelerated Dragon structure. Lagno chose a less well-known sideline early on, and the critical moment soon followed.

Photo courtesy FIDE/Michal Walusza.

Assaubayeva opted for a risky and committal approach in the middlegame, sacrificing material and pushing for counterplay. The decision was not necessary, but it was in the spirit of the position. However, after coming close to generating real chances, she shifted direction at a key moment. That hesitation allowed Lagno to take over.

With her win, Lagno joined the leaders. (Photo courtesy FIDE/Michal Walusza)

Lagno played with clarity and control from that point on, converting her advantage without allowing counterplay. The win brings her into the lead and highlights both her opening preparation and her ability to convert better positions with precision.

Zhu Jiner’s Positional Masterclass

Zhu, playing White against Vaishali, delivered one of the most instructive games of the round. Vaishali chose a solid but somewhat passive setup in the Italian Opening. With more active pieces and better control of space, Zhu built her position patiently.

Photo courtesy FIDE/Michal Walusza.

She improved her pieces step by step, gradually restricting Black’s activity. Move by move, the pressure increased until the position became technically winning. It was a long, strategically rich battle, and an excellent example of how to convert a positional advantage.

Zhu Jiner also joined the leaders with her win on Friday. (Photo courtesy FIDE/Michal Walusza)

With this win, Zhu moved into a share of the lead.

Two Peaceful Draws

In the remaining games, GMs Aleksandra Goryachkina and Anna Muzychuk split the point in a relatively quick and uneventful game, while GMs Tan Zhongyi and Divya Deshmukh played a longer game but also agreed to a draw.

Graphic courtesy of FIDE

Looking Ahead

The spotlight right now belongs to Sindarov, who is putting together a breakout performance that few saw coming (But some did! – Ed.). Round after round, he keeps delivering, and at this point he is setting the pace for the entire field. But right behind him is Caruana, who is also showing excellent form. His win yesterday keeps him firmly in contention and very much in this race. With his experience in these tournaments, he will be ready to capitalize on any slip.

But let’s zoom out. With nine rounds still to play, there is plenty of chess left to be decided, and anyone in the field can pick up momentum. The pressure is building, and the race is very much on.

In the Women’s Candidates, the margin is even thinner. Lagno, Muzychuk, and Zhu share the lead, with every other player at most only one point behind. With so little separating the field, nothing is decided, and every game continues to carry significant weight.

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