FIDE Candidates 2026 R2: A calm day

By admin March 31, 2026 Updated: May 13, 2026 0 comments

All four games in FIDE Candidates 2026 Round 2 ended in draws. R Praggnanandhaa drew his game against Wei Yi (CHN). Praggnanandhaa, Javokhir Sindarov (UZB) and Fabiano Caruana (USA) are at 1.5/2 each. Praggnanandhaa will face Sindarov in the third round.

Four draws

After an exciting start in the first round, the second one witnessed all four draws.

Andrey Esipenko – Hikaru Nakamura (USA): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Interview with Hikaru Nakamura | Video: FIDE

Hikaru Nakamura analyses his game | Video: GMHikaru

Anish Giri (NED) – Fabiano Caruana (USA): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Interview with Fabiano Caruana | Video: FIDE

Wei – Praggnanandhaa: 0.5-0.5

Wei Yi (CHN, 2754) and R Praggnanandhaa (2741) have played three Classical rated games against each other. Praggnanandhaa had the white pieces in all of them and the result was a draw. Their fourth battle also had the same result and this was the first time, Wei got white against Praggnanandhaa in a Classical rated game.

Wei Yi (CHN) – R Praggnanandhaa: 0.5-0.5 | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Press Conference with R Praggnanandhaa and Wei Yi | Video: FIDE

Javokhir SIndarov (UZB) – Matthias Bluebaum (GER): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Vishy Anand joined the official broadcast with Jan Gustafsson and Peter Svidler | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Hikaru Nakamura’s better half WGM Atousa Pourkashiyan was spotted among the spectators | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Replay Round 2 live stream

Replay Round 2 live commentary by GM Peter Svidler and GM Jan Gustafsson | Video: FIDE

Replay Round 2 games

Round 2 results

All four games ended in draws in Round 2 | Graphic: FIDE

Standings after Round 2

Javokhir Sindarov, Fabiano Caruana and R Praggnanandhaa are at 1.5/2 each | Graphic: FIDE

Round 3 pairings

Matthias Bluebaum — Andrey Esipenko
Praggnanandhaa R — Javokhir Sindarov
Fabiano Caruana — Wei Yi
Hikaru Nakamura — Anish Giri

Schedule

FIDE Candidates Open and Women will take place from 29th March to 15th April. Tie-breaks, if needed, will be played on 16th April. Rest days are on 2nd, 6th, 10th and 13th April 2026.