FIDE Candidates 2026 R3: Caruana crushes Wei in 19 moves

By admin April 1, 2026 Updated: June 17, 2026 0 comments

World no.3, Fabiano Caruana (USA) crushed Wei Yi (CHN) in 19 moves in the third round of FIDE Candidates 2026. FIDE World Cup 2025 winner, Javokhir Sindarov (UZB) was too strong for R Praggnanandhaa. The remanining two games between Matthias Bluebaum (GER) and Andrey Esipenko, and Hikaru Nakamura (USA) and Anish Giri (NED) ended in draws.

Sindarov too strong for Praggnanandhaa

The second round witnessed 50% decisive games. Fabiano Caruana and Javokhir Sindarov are at 2.5/3 each. They will face each other in the fourth round.

Caruana – Wei: 1-0

Fabiano Caruana (USA, 2795) and Wei Yi (CHN, 2754) played five Classical rated games against each other. Caruana won three and the remaining two ended in draws. The World no.3 won their sixth encounter.

Position after 17…Ne5??

In an already worse position, Black blundered 17…Ne5?? 18.Nxe5+- Rxe5 19.Nd1 and Black cannot save the bishop.

Fabiano Caruana scored the fastest win of this Candidates so far in just 19 moves | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Press Conference with Fabiano Caruana | Video: FIDE

Praggnanandhaa – Sindarov: 0-1

R Praggnanandhaa (2741) and Javokhir Sindarov (UZB, 2745) played ten Classical rated games against each other. Praggnanandhaa had won four, lost one and the remaining five ended in draws. Sindarov also in the post-game interview that his opponent always beat him in the junior events.

Position after 13.b4

13.b4 surprised Sindarov. He went 13…Nxb4!? 14.axb4 Bxb4+ 15.Kd1 dxe3 16.Bd3 Qg6 now 17.Qa4 does not work due to Rd8 18.Qxb4?? Qxe4-+. Black had enough compensation and counterplay for the knight he traded for two pawns. White’s king was vulnerable.

Position after 33.c5?

White sacrificed his pawn 33.c5? Sindarov did not understand the reason behind it. Then again, he realizes that it was not easy to play for White.

R Praggnanandhaa suffered a tough loss against Javokhir Sindarov (UZB) | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Javokhir Sindarov analyses his game with Peter Svidler and Jan Gustafsson | Video: FIDE

Matthias Bluebaum (GER) – Andrey Esipenko: 0.5-0.5 | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

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

Hikaru Nakamura analyzes his game against Anish Giri | Video: GMHikaru

Michael Khodarkovsky, FIDE Vice President and Executive Director, Kasparov Chess Foundation, made the ceremonial first move on Fabiano Caruana and Wei Yi’s board | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

GM Victor Bologan (MDA), Executive Director, FIDE, playing simultaneous exhibition games | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Javokhir Sindarov (UZB) following the games on tv | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

A brilliant shot by Michal Walusza showing the playing hall and Sindarov taking a moment for himself outside of it | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Replay Round 3 live stream

Replay Round 3 live commentary by GM Peter Svidler and GM Jan Gustafsson | Video: FIDE

Replay Round 3 games

Round 3 results

The third round had two decisive games and two draws | Graphic: FIDE

Standings after Round 3

Javokhir Sindarov and Fabiano Caruana are at 2.5/3 each| Graphic: FIDE

Round 4 pairings

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

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.