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Caruana Breaks Nakamura Curse! FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 Kicks Off

Caruana triumphs over Nakamura in a dramatic start to the FIDE Candidates.

Mar 30
4 min read
Caruana Breaks Nakamura Curse! FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 Kicks Off

Top Summary

  • What happened: GM Fabiano Caruana defeated GM Hikaru Nakamura, ending a losing streak. Praggnanandhaa and Sindarov also secured wins in the Open section. The Women's Candidates saw four draws.
  • Why it matters: The Candidates Tournament determines the challenger for the World Championship title. Caruana's win positions him as an early favorite.
  • What changes for people: The chess world is witnessing a surge in decisive games, moving away from quick draws in elite events.
  • Who is affected: Top GMs like Nakamura, Giri, and Esipenko faced setbacks, while Caruana, Praggnanandhaa, and Sindarov gained momentum.

Explosive Start to FIDE Candidates 2026

The 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament began in Pegeia, Cyprus, with eight decisive games, signaling a shift away from the trend of quick draws in top-level chess.

GM Fabiano Caruana ended his losing streak against GM Hikaru Nakamura in a six-hour battle.

GM Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu surprised GM Anish Giri, and GM Javokhir Sindarov defeated GM Andrey Esipenko.

Open Section: Key Results

The only draw in the Open section was between Candidates debutants GMs Matthias Bluebaum and Wei Yi.

Bluebaum, despite a novelty on move 10, couldn't maintain an edge, settling for a draw after Wei Yi's tactical rook sacrifice.

 

"It seems like I already ruined the #GreatBluebaumSweep, so now the only sweep I can do is 14 draws instead of 14 wins, but let’s see!" - Matthias Bluebaum

 

Sindarov's Lucky Break

Javokhir Sindarov, the youngest player at 20, secured a win against Andrey Esipenko after a surprising turn of events.

Esipenko, with a significant time advantage, made a critical error, allowing Sindarov to capitalize.

 

"Today I don’t play very well but after he gives me chances, I think I played really very well. Somehow I wake up today in the game, because before I think I’m just sleeping and playing very badly!" - Javokhir Sindarov

 

Sindarov's victory propelled him into the top 10 on the live rating list.

Praggnanandhaa's Strategic Masterclass

Praggnanandhaa surprised Giri with the Grand Prix Attack, a bold opening choice.

Giri, deviating from his Chessable course recommendations, found himself in a challenging position.

Praggnanandhaa flawlessly converted his advantage, securing a crucial win.

Caruana Breaks the Curse

Caruana's victory over Nakamura was highly anticipated, given his recent struggles against his American rival.

Nakamura admitted that his attempt to steer the game towards a calmer position backfired.

 

"Because it’s the first round, I really wanted to try and steer the game toward something that I felt was a lot calmer. In retrospect, this was a mistake. I should have tried to keep the game as sharp as possible." - Hikaru Nakamura

 

Caruana capitalized on Nakamura's endgame mistake, securing a hard-fought victory.

Women's Candidates: Tense Draws

The 2026 FIDE Women's Candidates began with four draws, but the games were far from uneventful.

GM Aleksandra Goryachkina missed a decisive opportunity against GM Kateryna Lagno.

GM Vaishali Rameshbabu held on against GM Bibisara Assaubayeva despite severe time trouble.

Missed Opportunities and Close Calls

GM Zhu Jiner misplayed a promising game against GM Tan Zhongyi, resulting in a draw.

GM Anna Muzychuk was surprised by GM Divya Deshmukh's opening but managed to secure a draw.

Vaishali, in severe time pressure, found the crucial move 28.Nc4! to hold her position.

Looking Ahead to Round Two

Round two is on Monday, March 30, starting at 6:15 p.m. IST.

Key pairings include Nakamura vs. Esipenko and Sindarov vs. Bluebaum in the Open section and Divya vs. Vaishali in the Women's section.

How to Watch

You can watch the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament on Chess24's YouTube and Twitch channels. The games can also be followed from our Events Page.

What to Watch Next

Round two promises more exciting chess, with players looking to capitalize on their positions. Will Nakamura recover from his loss? Can Sindarov continue his winning streak? The FIDE Candidates Tournament is set to deliver more thrilling moments.