Uzbek grandmaster Javohir Sindarov drew with Dutch grandmaster Anish Giri in the seventh round of the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus on April 5. Sindarov played with the white pieces and achieved a slight advantage during the game, but Giri defended well and managed to equalize the position, resulting in a draw.

After seven rounds, Sindarov has accumulated 6 points out of a possible 7 (5 wins and 2 draws), finishing the first half of the tournament as the sole leader. This performance is considered the best start in the modern history of the Candidates Tournaments, as he secured 5 wins in just the first 6 games.

Statistical data shows that previous tournament winners typically achieved around 3-5 wins over the entire event (e.g., Magnus Carlsen with 5, Vishwanathan Anand with 3). Sindarov's rapid successes highlight his competitive edge. Currently, his closest pursuer is Fabiano Caruana (4.5 points), followed by Anish Giri and Pragnanandha Rameshbabu (3.5 points each).

In the seventh round, the only victory was secured by Chinese grandmaster Wei Yi, who defeated Andrey Esipenko, while all other matches ended in draws. This round concluded the first half; participants will now begin the second half, playing the same opponents with colors reversed.

The eighth round is scheduled for April 7, where Sindarov will play with the black pieces against Andrey Esipenko. The 2026 Candidates Tournament is being held in Cyprus from March 29 to April 15, featuring eight grandmasters, including Hikaru Nakamura and Sindarov, competing for a prize fund of €700,000 and the right to challenge reigning world champion Gukesh for the chess crown.

Source: www.gazeta.uz