Candidates Tournament 2026: Vaishali Leads, Sindarov Extends Dominance
R Vaishali stayed in strong form and moved into the sole lead in the Women’s Candidates. She held Anna Muzychuk to a calm draw in Round 10. Meanwhile, Javokhir Sindarov continued his dominance in the Open section with a win over R Praggnanandhaa.
Vaishali has been consistent throughout the tournament. As a result, she now has six points and leads the standings. Against Muzychuk, she played solidly from the start. Moreover, she equalised comfortably and avoided any late risks.
However, the race is still close. Muzychuk now shares second place with Zhu Jiner, both on 5.5 points. Therefore, the final rounds will be crucial.
At the same time, Bibisara Assaubayeva secured an important win over Zhu. Consequently, she moved to five points. She now joins Kateryna Lagno and Aleksandra Goryachkina in the chasing group.
For India, it was a mixed day in the women’s section. Divya Deshmukh fought hard but lost in the endgame to Goryachkina. Nevertheless, her performance remained competitive.
In contrast, the Open section saw clear dominance. Sindarov outplayed Praggnanandhaa with confidence. As a result, he reached eight points. Furthermore, he now holds a two-point lead at the top. His performance has been steady, and he continues to show strong preparation and control.
