[Event "FIDE Candidates 2026"]
[Site "Pegeia CYP"]
[Date "2026.04.12"]
[Round "12.1"]
[White "Sindarov, Javokhir"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "Crowther, Mark"]
[ECO "D37"]
[EventDate "2026.03.29"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 h6 {Nakamura repeats this unusual variation.} 5. g3 (5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bf4 Bd6 7. Bxd6 Qxd6 8. e3 Bf5 9. Nh4 Bh7 10. Bd3 O-O 11. Bxh7+ Kxh7 12. Qb3 Nbd7 13. O-O Rab8 14. a4 c6 15. a5 g6 16. Nf3 Kg7 17. Qa3 Ne8 18. a6 b5 19. Qxd6 Nxd6 20. Rfc1 Rfc8 21. b3 b4 22. Na4 Rb5 23. Ne1 c5 24. dxc5 Nxc5 25. Nxc5 Rcxc5 26. Rxc5 Rxc5 27. Nd3 Rb5 28. f3 Nc4 29. Kf2 Na5 30. Rc1 Nxb3 31. Rc7 d4 32. Rxa7 Nc5 33. Nxc5 Rxc5 34. exd4 Rc6 {1-0 Abdusattorov,N (2751)-Praggnanandhaa,R (2758) Tata Steel-A 88th Wijk aan Zee 2026 (2)}) 5... Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O dxc4 8. Ne5 Nc6 $1 9. Bxc6 bxc6 10. Nxc6 Qe8 11. Nxe7+ Qxe7 12. Qa4 a5 13. Qxc4 Ba6 14. Qc5 Qxc5 15. dxc5 {[#]} Rfd8 $146 (15... Nd5 16. Re1 Nxc3 17. bxc3 f6 18. f3 Kf7 19. Kf2 Rfd8 20. Be3 Bc4 21. a3 Rab8 22. Rab1 e5 23. g4 Ke6 24. h4 Rb3 25. Rxb3 Bxb3 26. Rh1 Rd1 27. Rxd1 Bxd1 28. h5 c6 29. Bd2 a4 30. e4 Bb3 31. Be3 Bc4 32. f4 Bd3 33. Kf3 Bc2 34. f5+ Ke7 35. Bd2 Bd1+ 36. Kg3 Bc2 37. Kf3 Bd1+ 38. Kg3 Bc2 39. Kf3 {½-½ Firouzja,A (2757)-Liang,A (2684) Titled Tuesday intern op 04th Mar Late Chess.com INT blitz 2025 (9)}) 16. Re1 Nd5 17. Nxd5 Rxd5 18. Be3 a4 {[%mdl 1024]} 19. f3 f6 20. Kf2 c6 21. Red1 Bc4 {[%cal Oc4a2]} 22. Rd4 Rxd4 23. Bxd4 $11 {[%mdl 4096]} Rd8 24. Bc3 h5 25. Ke1 e5 26. Rd1 Rxd1+ 27. Kxd1 Bxa2 28. e4 Bb3+ 29. Kd2 Bc4 30. Ba5 Bb3 31. Bc3 Bc4 32. Ba5 Bb3 33. Bc3 Bc4 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2026"]
[Site "Pegeia CYP"]
[Date "2026.04.12"]
[Round "12.2"]
[White "Wei Yi"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "Crowther, Mark"]
[ECO "C26"]
[EventDate "2026.03.29"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 O-O 5. f4 exf4 (5... d5 6. Nxd5 Be6 7. Nf3 Bxd5 8. Bxd5 Nxd5 9. exd5 Qxd5 10. fxe5 Nc6 11. c3 Nxe5 12. d4 Nxf3+ 13. Qxf3 Qxf3 14. gxf3 Rfe8+ 15. Kf2 Bd6 16. Bd2 f5 17. h4 c5 18. Rhe1 cxd4 19. cxd4 Kf7 20. Rxe8 Rxe8 21. Rc1 Ke6 22. Ke3 Be7 23. h5 Bf6 24. Kd3 Rd8 25. Be3 g6 26. hxg6 hxg6 27. Rh1 Rh8 28. Rxh8 Bxh8 29. Kc4 Bf6 30. d5+ Kd7 31. Bxa7 Bxb2 32. Be3 Bf6 33. f4 Bd8 34. a4 Kd6 35. Bd2 {½-½ Gurel,E (2648)-Svane,F (2640) FIDE World Cup Goa 2025 (2.1)}) 6. Bxf4 c6 7. d4 Bb4 8. Nge2 Nxe4 9. O-O d5 10. Nxe4 dxc4 11. c3 Be7 12. N2g3 {[#]} Na6 $146 {[%cal Bb8a6,Ba6c7,Bc7d5][%mdl 32]} (12... Be6 13. Qf3 Qd5 14. Rae1 Nd7 15. Nh5 Qf5 16. Nhg3 Qd5 17. Nh5 Qf5 {½-½ Eberl,H (2321)-Douglas,S (2391) WS MN/045 email ICCF email 2009}) 13. Qe2 Nc7 14. Qxc4 Nd5 15. Bd2 a5 16. Nf5 Bxf5 17. Rxf5 g6 18. Rf3 f5 19. Nc5 b5 20. Qf1 Bxc5 21. dxc5 a4 22. c4 bxc4 23. Qxc4 Re8 $1 24. Re3 Rxe3 25. Bxe3 Rb8 26. Bh6 Qf6 27. Rd1 $1 g5 28. Rxd5 cxd5 29. Qxd5+ $15 {[%mdl 4096] The position is equal but black must be the one with hopes.} Qf7 30. Qd2 f4 $36 {[%mdl 2048]} 31. c6 $2 {[%eval -417,13] [%wdl 0,0,1000][%mdl 8192] Should be losing.} (31. Qd4 $15 {[%eval -46,22] [%wdl 0,970,30]}) 31... Qa7+ $19 32. Kh1 Qc5 $2 {[%eval -13,22] [%wdl 1,995,4]} (32... Qe3 $19 {[%eval -366,23] [%wdl 0,0,1000] would have been a nice echo of Sindarov's win against Wei Yi.} 33. Qd5+ Kh8 34. Qd1 Re8) 33. c7 $11 Re8 {[%cal Oc5e3]} 34. h3 $6 {[%eval -130,21] [%wdl 0,126,874]} (34. h4 $1 $11 {[%eval -5,23] [%wdl 1,997,2]}) 34... Qxc7 $17 35. Bxg5 f3 {[%mdl 512]} 36. gxf3 Qc4 37. Kg1 Qxa2 38. Kf2 {[%eval -199,18] [%wdl 0,2,998]} (38. Bf6 $17 {[%eval -110,21] [%wdl 0,349,651]}) 38... Qe6 39. h4 Rb8 40. Bf4 Qb6+ (40... Rf8 41. Qd4 Qc6 42. Kg3 Rf5) 41. Kg3 Rd8 42. Qe2 {[%eval -214,19] [%wdl 0,1,999]} (42. Qc1 $17 {[%eval -126,21] [%wdl 0,153,847]}) 42... Qc6 43. h5 Kf7 $2 {[%eval -15,22] [%wdl 1,995,4]} (43... Rd5 $1 $19 {[%eval -166,18] [%wdl 0,14,986]} 44. Qe4 Rc5 45. Qxc6 Rxc6) 44. Qe5 $11 Qd5 45. Qc7+ Rd7 46. Qc2 Qxh5 47. Qc4+ Kf8 48. Qb4+ Kg8 49. Qc4+ Rf7 50. Qc8+ Rf8 {[%eval -66,23] [%wdl 0,903,97]} (50... Kg7 $11 {[%eval -29,26] [%wdl 0,990,10]} 51. Qc3+ Kg8 52. Qc8+ Rf8 53. Qc4+ Qf7 54. Qxa4 h5) 51. Qc4+ $15 Qf7 52. Qxa4 Qg6+ 53. Kh2 h6 (53... Qf5 54. Qb3+ Qf7 55. Qxf7+ Kxf7 56. Kg3 Ke6) 54. Qb3+ $2 {[%eval -204,19] [%wdl 0,1,999]} (54. Qc4+ $11 {[%eval -26,23] [%wdl 0,992,8]} Kh7 55. Qc7+ Rf7 56. Qe5) 54... Kh7 $19 55. Bg3 Rg8 56. Qb7+ $2 {[%eval -368,15] [%wdl 0,0,1000]} (56. f4 {[%eval -182,26] [%wdl 0,5,995]}) 56... Rg7 57. Qb8 Qc2+ 58. Kh3 Qf5+ 59. Kg2 Qc2+ {Doesn't spoil anything yet.} (59... h5 $1 {adding another piece to the attack finishes things. It's not immediate but by general reasoning correct.}) 60. Kh3 Qd1 61. Qf4 Qh1+ 62. Bh2 Qf1+ $1 63. Kh4 Qe1+ 64. Bg3 Qh1+ 65. Bh2 Qb1 $2 {[%eval -5,25] [%wdl 1,997,2]} (65... Qe1+ $1 $19 {[%eval -171,22] [%wdl 0,10,990]} 66. Bg3 Qe7+ 67. Kh3 Rf7) 66. Bg3 $2 {[%eval -181,20] [%wdl 0,5,995]} (66. Qe3 $11 {[%eval -5,25] [%wdl 1,997,2]}) 66... Re7 {[%eval -66,21] [%wdl 0,898,102]} (66... Qh1+ $19 {[%eval -181,20] [%wdl 0,5,995]} 67. Bh2 Qe1+ 68. Bg3 Qe7+ 69. Kh3 Rf7) 67. b4 $15 Qh1+ 68. Bh2 Qe1+ 69. Bg3 Qb1 70. Kh3 Qf1+ 71. Kh4 (71. Kg4 Rg7+ 72. Kh4 Qh1+ 73. Bh2) 71... Qb5 72. Kh3 {[%eval -54,20] [%wdl 0,950,50]} (72. Kg4 $11 {[%eval 0,38] [%wdl 2,996,2]}) 72... Qd5 73. Kg2 Re2+ 74. Bf2 Re7 (74... Re5 {was Giri's first thought, he stopped on the way but time trouble intervened. It's not winning either but at least wouldn't allow the immediate repetition that happened.}) 75. Bg3 Qa2+ 76. Kh3 Qd5 {Giri was short of time and uncertain, this allows the three fold repetition.} 77. Kg2 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2026"]
[Site "Pegeia CYP"]
[Date "2026.04.12"]
[Round "12.3"]
[White "Bluebaum, Matthias"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "Crowther, Mark"]
[ECO "D37"]
[EventDate "2026.03.29"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Qc2 (6. Bg5 Bb4 7. e3 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Bg3 Ne4 10. Nd2 Nxg3 11. hxg3 c6 12. Qc2 Nf6 13. a3 Bxc3 14. bxc3 Kf8 15. Bd3 Kg7 16. c4 Be6 17. cxd5 cxd5 18. O-O Rc8 19. Qb2 b6 20. Rfc1 g4 21. Rxc8 Bxc8 22. Rc1 h5 23. Qb4 Be6 24. Kf1 h4 25. gxh4 Rxh4 26. Ke2 Rh2 27. Rg1 g3 28. fxg3 Bg4+ 29. Kf2 Qc7 30. Nf1 Ne4+ 31. Bxe4 dxe4 32. Nd2 Qc2 33. d5 Rh6 34. Rf1 Qd3 35. Qd4+ Rf6+ {0-1 Yakubboev,N (2686)-Aronian,L (2729) Chess.com Play In4 Chess.com INT blitz 2026 (8)}) 6... Bb4 7. Bf4 O-O 8. e3 Nh5 {[%cal Bf6h5,Bh5g7,Bg7f5,Bf5d6][%mdl 32]} 9. Bg5 {[%cal Bf4g5,Bg5h4,Bh4g3][%mdl 32] [#]} f6 $146 (9... Ndf6 10. Bh4 h6 11. Bd3 Qe7 12. Ne5 g5 13. Bg3 c5 14. Qe2 Kg7 15. O-O Nxg3 16. hxg3 Be6 17. f4 Rad8 18. Rab1 Bg4 19. Qe1 Bc8 20. a3 Ba5 21. b4 cxb4 22. axb4 Bb6 23. Na4 Bc7 24. b5 Bd6 25. b6 a6 26. Rc1 Bb8 27. Qe2 h5 28. Bb1 Ng4 29. Qd1 Rfe8 30. Rc5 gxf4 31. exf4 Bd6 32. Qd3 Rh8 33. Rcc1 Rh6 {½-½ Hansen,J (2317)-Perry,W (2268) W-Cup22 sf06 email ICCF email 2019}) 10. Bh4 Nb6 $1 11. Be2 g6 12. Nd2 Ng7 $1 13. Bg3 c6 14. h3 Nf5 15. Bh2 Bd6 16. O-O Bxh2+ 17. Kxh2 Nd6 18. b4 Bf5 19. Qb3 Kg7 20. b5 {[%eval 5,24] [%wdl 11,982,7]} (20. Kg1 $14 {[%eval 49,21] [%wdl 82,917,1]}) 20... cxb5 21. Nxb5 Nxb5 22. Bxb5 Rf7 23. Rfc1 Rc7 24. Rxc7+ Qxc7+ 25. Kg1 Rc8 26. Qb4 Kf7 27. Nb3 Nc4 $1 28. Rc1 Qe7 29. Qa4 Nd6 30. Rxc8 Bxc8 31. Be2 $1 b6 32. Bf3 $1 Qb7 33. Nc1 Bf5 34. Ne2 Be4 35. Nc3 {[%eval 0,56] [%wdl 2,997,1]} (35. Bxe4 $14 {[%eval 47,22] [%wdl 31,969,0]} Nxe4 36. Qc2) 35... Bxf3 $11 36. gxf3 {[%mdl 4096]} Nf5 37. Qb3 Ne7 38. e4 {[%cal Rc3d5]} Qd7 39. Kg2 {[%cal Rc3d5]} Ke6 40. a4 g5 {[%cal Bg6g5,Bg5g4][%mdl 32]} 41. Qc2 f5 42. Qb3 fxe4 43. fxe4 Kf6 44. Nxd5+ Nxd5 45. exd5 g4 46. Qc4 gxh3+ 47. Kh2 Qf5 {[%cal Of5f3]} (47... Qg4 $5 48. Qc6+ $8 Kf7 $11) 48. Qc6+ Kg5 {[%cal Of5f3]} 49. d6 Qxf2+ 50. Kxh3 Qe3+ 51. Kg2 Qd2+ 52. Kg3 Qd3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2026"]
[Site "Pegeia CYP"]
[Date "2026.04.12"]
[Round "12.4"]
[White "Esipenko, Andrey"]
[Black "Praggnanandhaa, R.."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "Crowther, Mark"]
[ECO "A13"]
[EventDate "2026.03.29"]

1. c4 e6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. O-O (5. d3 Bb4+ 6. Nbd2 a5 7. O-O Nf6 8. Ne4 Nxe4 9. dxe4 e5 10. Ne1 Be6 11. Qc2 Bxe1 12. Rxe1 O-O 13. Bd2 Qe7 14. b3 Rfd8 15. a3 Qc5 16. Rec1 Ra6 17. Qd3 Rb6 18. h4 h5 19. Kh2 f6 20. f4 Bg4 21. Bf3 Bxf3 22. exf3 exf4 23. gxf4 f5 24. Rg1 Ne7 25. b4 Qc6 26. c5 Rb5 27. Qc4+ Kf8 28. Rg5 axb4 29. axb4 b6 30. Rxh5 Ke8 31. Rg1 bxc5 32. Rxg7 Kd7 33. Rxe7+ {1-0 Martinez Alcantara,J (2656)-Xiong,J (2656) 3rd Thursday Feb 5th Chess.com INT blitz 2026 (5)}) 5... Nh6 6. e3 {[#]} g6 $146 (6... Be7 7. d3 O-O 8. exd4 Nf5 9. d5 exd5 10. Nc3 dxc4 11. dxc4 Nd6 12. Qe2 Re8 13. Nd5 Bf8 14. Be3 Nf5 15. Rad1 Nxe3 16. fxe3 Bd7 17. Qf2 f6 18. Qc2 Qc8 19. Nh4 Bg4 20. Rde1 Nb4 21. Qb1 c6 22. Nf4 g5 23. h3 gxf4 24. hxg4 fxe3 25. a3 e2 26. Rf4 Qd7 27. Be4 Na6 28. Rxe2 Nc5 29. Nf5 Re5 30. b4 Ne6 31. Rff2 a5 32. c5 axb4 33. axb4 Ng5 34. Bg2 Qe6 35. Qd3 Nf7 36. Rxe5 {0-1 Matlakov,M (2673)-Maghsoodloo,P (2719) Budapest Hetenyi Memorial 2023 (4)}) 7. b4 $1 {[%cal Bb2b4,Bb4b5][%mdl 32]} dxe3 8. Bb2 exf2+ 9. Rxf2 f6 10. b5 {[%mdl 1024]} Na5 11. Qe2 a6 12. Ng5 {[%mdl 64]} Bc5 {[%mdl 64]} 13. Ne4 $1 (13. Nxe6 $6 Bxf2+ 14. Kxf2 Bxe6 15. Qxe6+ Qe7 16. Qxe7+ Kxe7 $17) 13... Bxf2+ 14. Qxf2 Ng4 15. Nxf6+ Nxf6 16. Bxf6 Rf8 17. Bxd8 Rxf2 18. Kxf2 Kxd8 19. Na3 axb5 20. cxb5 Ra7 21. b6 cxb6 22. Nb5 Ra8 23. Nc3 Bd7 24. Rb1 Kc7 25. Rb4 {[%eval -43,17] [%wdl 0,975,25]} (25. Bf1 $11 {[%eval -4,22] [%wdl 1,997,2]}) 25... Rf8+ {[%eval -7,22] [%wdl 1,997,2]} (25... Nc6 $15 {[%eval -43,17] [%wdl 0,975,25]} 26. Rh4 h5) 26. Ke3 $11 Bc6 27. Be4 Kd6 28. Bd3 Kc5 29. a3 e5 30. Ne4+ Bxe4 31. Rxe4 {[%mdl 4096]} Nc6 32. a4 Kd6 33. Rc4 Rd8 34. h4 Rf8 35. Rc1 Nb4 36. Be4 Ra8 37. Rf1 Rxa4 38. Rf7 Ra3+ 39. d3 Nc2+ 40. Kf3 Nb4 41. Rxh7 {[%cal Of3e2]} Nxd3 42. Kg2 Ra2+ 43. Kg1 Ra1+ 44. Kg2 Ra2+ 45. Kg1 Ra1+ 46. Kg2 Ra2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Women Candidates"]
[Site "Pegeia CYP"]
[Date "2026.04.12"]
[Round "12.1"]
[White "Vaishali, Rameshbabu"]
[Black "Zhu, Jiner"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Crowther, Mark"]
[ECO "B12"]
[EventDate "2026.03.29"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Bd3 Bxd3 5. cxd3 (5. Qxd3 e6 6. c3 Ne7 7. Ne2 Nf5 8. Nd2 c5 9. O-O Nc6 10. Nf3 Rc8 11. g3 Be7 12. h4 Qb6 13. h5 h6 14. Bd2 Qxb2 15. Rfb1 Qa3 16. Rxb7 cxd4 17. Nexd4 Nfxd4 18. Nxd4 O-O 19. Nxc6 Rxc6 20. Qd4 Rb6 21. Bc1 Qc5 22. Rxa7 Rc6 23. Be3 Rfc8 24. a4 Qxd4 25. cxd4 Bb4 26. a5 Bc3 27. Ra2 Rc4 28. a6 Rb4 29. Rb7 Ra8 30. Rxb4 Bxb4 31. a7 Be7 32. g4 Bd8 33. Ra6 Kf8 34. f4 Ke8 {1-0 Caruana,F (2795)-Can,I (2562) USA-ch Cup Blitz Saint Louis 2026 (4)}) 5... e6 6. Nc3 Ne7 7. Nf3 h6 8. h4 Nd7 9. Ne2 {[#]} b6 $146 (9... c5 10. dxc5 Nxc5 11. b4 Nd7 12. a3 Nc6 13. d4 Be7 14. Qd3 Nb6 15. Nf4 Qd7 16. h5 Nc4 17. O-O b5 18. Ne2 a5 19. bxa5 Rxa5 20. Nh2 Qa7 21. Rd1 b4 22. Qg3 Bf8 23. f4 Ne7 24. Qd3 bxa3 25. Kh1 Nc6 26. f5 Nb2 27. Bxb2 axb2 28. Rab1 Ba3 29. Qg3 Rg8 30. fxe6 fxe6 31. Nf4 Nxd4 32. Qg6+ Qf7 33. Rxd4 Qxg6 34. hxg6 Rc5 35. Rdd1 Ke7 36. Nd3 Rc2 37. Nf3 Rb8 38. Nfe1 Re2 39. Kg1 {1-0 Lee,J (2435)-Jones,S (2107) Japan op Tokyo 2025 (1)}) 10. Bd2 c5 11. Rc1 Nc6 12. h5 {[%eval -26,20] [%wdl 3,962,35]} (12. Bf4 $142 {[%eval 16,18] [%wdl 22,973,5]}) 12... Qc8 {[%eval 48,18] [%wdl 85,914,1]} (12... Be7 $11 {[%eval -26,20] [%wdl 3,962,35]}) 13. dxc5 {[%eval -31,22] [%wdl 2,959,39]} (13. Rh4 $14 {[%eval 48,18] [%wdl 85,914,1]}) 13... bxc5 $15 {[%cal Oa8b8]} 14. Qa4 Qb7 {[%cal Oa7a5]} 15. O-O Rb8 {[%eval 47,18] [%wdl 75,924,1]} (15... a5 $11 {[%eval -15,19] [%wdl 4,979,17]}) 16. Rc2 a6 17. Qf4 Qb5 18. Nc1 Rg8 {[%eval 86,20] [%wdl 341,659,0]} (18... Be7 $14 {[%eval 40,19] [%wdl 55,944,1]}) 19. b3 {[%eval 34,23] [%wdl 43,955,2]} (19. d4 $16 {[%eval 86,20] [%wdl 341,659,0]}) 19... g5 $14 20. hxg6 Rxg6 21. d4 Be7 22. Be3 (22. dxc5 a5 23. Re1 Nxc5 24. Nd4) 22... c4 {[%eval 81,19] [%wdl 276,724,0]} (22... a5 $14 {[%eval 38,20] [%wdl 44,955,1]}) 23. bxc4 {[%eval 0,21] [%wdl 6,988,6]} (23. Nh4 $16 {[%eval 81,19] [%wdl 276,724,0]} Rg5 24. Qf3) 23... dxc4 $11 24. Ne2 {[%cal Oa2a3]} Nb4 25. Rb2 {[%eval -75,18] [%wdl 0,781,219]} (25. Rb1 $11 {[%eval -26,21] [%wdl 1,978,21]}) 25... Qc6 {[%eval -6,20] [%wdl 4,988,8]} (25... Rc8 $1 $17 {[%eval -75,18] [%wdl 0,781,219]} 26. Rxb4 Qxb4 (26... Bxb4 27. Qh4 $11)) 26. Rfb1 {[%eval -117,22] [%wdl 0,298,702]} (26. Bd2 $1 $11 {[%eval -6,20] [%wdl 4,988,8]} a5 27. a3) 26... Rb5 $17 27. d5 Nxd5 28. Qe4 Qb7 {[%eval -64,20] [%wdl 0,871,129]} (28... Rxb2 $17 {[%eval -105,16] [%wdl 0,436,564]} 29. Rxb2 Qa4) 29. Bd4 {[%eval -133,16] [%wdl 0,149,851]} (29. Bc1 $1 $15 {[%eval -64,20] [%wdl 0,871,129]}) 29... h5 30. Kh1 Rg4 31. Qh7 h4 32. Qh5 Rg6 33. Qh8+ {[%eval -251,18] [%wdl 0,0,1000]} (33. Kg1 $17 {[%eval -125,19] [%wdl 0,213,787]}) 33... Nf8 {[%eval -113,20] [%wdl 0,339,661]} (33... Bf8 $1 $19 {[%eval -251,18] [%wdl 0,0,1000]} 34. Qh5 (34. Nxh4 $2 Rh6 $19) 34... h3) 34. a4 Rb3 35. Rxb3 cxb3 36. Nc1 $2 {[%eval -377,15] [%wdl 0,0,1000][%mdl 8192]} (36. Qh5 $1 $15 {[%eval -63,20] [%wdl 0,907,93]}) 36... h3 $19 37. Nxb3 $2 {[%eval -696,13] [%wdl 0,0,1000]} (37. Rxb3 hxg2+ 38. Kh2 Nb4 $19) (37. Qxh3 {[%eval -381,17] [%wdl 0,0,1000]} Nf4 38. Qh2 (38. Rxb3 $2 Qc6 $19)) 37... hxg2+ 38. Kh2 g1=Q+ $1 {[%mdl 512]} 39. Nxg1 (39. Rxg1 Qxb3) 39... Nc3 $1 {[%csl Oa4,Ob1][%mdl 576]} 0-1

[Event "FIDE Women Candidates"]
[Site "Pegeia CYP"]
[Date "2026.04.12"]
[Round "12.2"]
[White "Muzychuk, Anna"]
[Black "Goryachkina, Aleksandra"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "Crowther, Mark"]
[ECO "C84"]
[EventDate "2026.03.29"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. Bd2 O-O 9. h3 h6 10. Re1 Rb8 11. a3 Re8 12. Nc3 Bf8 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. Bxd5 Ne7 15. Bb3 Ng6 16. a4 Be6 17. Bxe6 Rxe6 18. axb5 axb5 19. Ra7 b4 $146 (19... Ra8 20. Qa1 Re8 21. Qa5 c5 22. Ra1 Rxa7 23. Qxa7 b4 24. Be3 Qc8 25. Nd2 f5) 20. d4 d5 21. dxe5 d4 22. Qe2 Nxe5 23. Nxe5 Rxe5 24. Qd3 b3 {[%eval 83,20] [%wdl 262,738,0]} 25. c3 {[%eval 38,22] [%wdl 23,977,0]} (25. cxb3 $6 Reb5 $11) (25. Bf4 $16 {[%eval 83,20] [%wdl 262,738,0]} Re7 26. Ra4 (26. cxb3 g5 $16)) 25... dxc3 $14 26. Qxd8 Rxd8 27. Bxc3 Rb5 28. Rxc7 Bb4 29. Bxb4 Rxb4 $11 {[%mdl 4096]} 30. Re2 Rd1+ 31. Kh2 Rbd4 32. Rc3 R4d2 33. Rxd2 Rxd2 34. Rxb3 Rxf2 35. Kg3 Rc2 36. h4 Kf8 37. Rb7 Rc6 $2 {[%eval 324,14] [%wdl 1000,0,0][%mdl 8192]} (37... g5 $14 {[%eval 39,21] [%wdl 17,983,0]}) 38. b4 $18 {[%cal Bb2b4,Bb4b5,Bb5b6,Bb6b7][%mdl 32]} Rg6+ 39. Kf3 Rf6+ 40. Ke3 Rg6 41. b5 Rxg2 42. b6 g5 43. Rc7 $1 Rb2 44. b7 Kg7 45. e5 Kg6 46. h5+ {[%mdl 512]} Kf5 (46... Kxh5 47. Rxf7) 47. Kd4 Ke6 48. Kc5 Kxe5 49. Kc6 g4 {[%eval 948,17] [%wdl 1000,0,0]} (49... Rc2+ $142 {[%eval 448,17] [%wdl 1000,0,0]} 50. Kb6 Rb2+ 51. Ka7 Kf5) 50. Re7+ Kf6 51. Re8 Rxb7 52. Kxb7 Kg5 53. Kc6 Kxh5 54. Kd5 Kh4 55. Ke4 Kg3 56. Ra8 h5 57. Ra3+ Kh2 58. Kf4 f5 59. Ra2+ Kh3 60. Ra3+ Kh2 61. Ra2+ Kh3 62. Ra5 g3 63. Rxf5 Kg2 64. Ra5 h4 65. Ra2+ $2 {[%eval 0,63] [%wdl 1,998,1] A lot has happened in this game but this costs Muzychuk the win.} (65. Kg4 $18 {[%eval 8115,33] [%wdl 1000,0,0] the only move and it's easy to see why this wins.} Kh1 66. Rh5 g2 67. Rxh4+ Kg1 68. Kg3 Kf1 69. Rf4+ Kg1 70. Rf8 Kh1 71. Rh8+ Kg1 72. Rh2) 65... Kh3 $1 $11 66. Ra3 Kh2 67. Kg4 g2 68. Rh3+ Kg1 69. Kxh4 (69. Rxh4 $2 Kf1 70. Kf3 g1=Q $19) 69... Kf2 70. Rh2 Kf3 71. Rxg2 Kxg2 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Women Candidates"]
[Site "Pegeia CYP"]
[Date "2026.04.12"]
[Round "12.3"]
[White "Assaubayeva, Bibisara"]
[Black "Lagno, Kateryna"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Crowther, Mark"]
[ECO "C54"]
[EventDate "2026.03.29"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nbd2 d5 8. exd5 Nxd5 9. O-O O-O 10. a3 Be7 (10... Bxd2 11. Bxd2 Nb6 12. Ba2 Be6 13. Bxe6 fxe6 14. Qe2 Nxd4 15. Nxd4 Qxd4 16. Qxe6+ Rf7 17. Bc3 Qd7 18. Qe4 c6 19. Rad1 Qf5 20. Qxf5 Rxf5 21. Rfe1 Nd5 22. f3 Nxc3 23. bxc3 Raf8 24. Re7 R5f7 25. Rxf7 Rxf7 26. Rd8+ Rf8 27. Rd7 Rf7 28. Rd8+ Rf8 29. Rd7 Rf7 30. Rd8+ {½-½ Sindarov,J (2710)-Maghsoodloo,P (2691) Tashkent UzChess Masters 2nd 2025 (9)}) 11. Re1 Bg4 12. h3 Bh5 13. Ba2 Nb6 14. g4 Bg6 {[%cal Of8e8] [#]} 15. Nf1 $146 {[%eval 35,20] [%wdl 59,938,3]} (15. Ne4 $16 {[%eval 76,17] [%wdl 261,738,1]}) (15. Ne4 Kh8 16. d5 Nb8 17. Bf4 N8d7 18. Rc1 Rc8 19. d6 cxd6 20. Nxd6 Rxc1 21. Qxc1 Bxd6 22. Bxd6 Re8 23. Rxe8+ Qxe8 24. Qe3 Qxe3 25. fxe3 Kg8 26. Ne5 {½-½ Bernotas,A (2356)-Paikens,R (2202) LAT-ch Riga 2025 (5)}) 15... Bd6 16. Bg5 $1 Qd7 17. Ne5 Bxe5 18. dxe5 h6 19. Bh4 {[%eval 31,20] [%wdl 32,967,1]} (19. Bd2 $142 {[%eval 69,21] [%wdl 178,822,0]}) 19... Qd4 $1 $14 20. Nh2 Qxb2 21. f4 Bc2 22. Qc1 {[%mdl 1024]} Qc3 {[%cal Oc6d4]} 23. Re3 {[%eval 0,22] [%wdl 6,988,6]} (23. e6 $1 $14 {[%eval 45,20] [%wdl 59,940,1]} fxe6 24. Rxe6) 23... Qd4 $11 24. Bf2 $1 Qa4 {[%cal Oa8d8]} 25. f5 Rad8 26. Qb2 $1 Nd5 27. Bxd5 Rxd5 28. Rc1 $1 Bd3 (28... Be4 29. Qe2 Rd4 (29... Rxe5 30. Rc4 $16) 30. Rec3) 29. Qxb7 Bb5 30. Qxc7 $2 {[%eval -191,16] [%wdl 0,5,995] Black was in bad time trouble about here, most likely that encourage this mistake, Bibisara was never in serious time pressure.} (30. e6 $1 $11 {[%eval 0,22] [%wdl 3,994,3]}) 30... Nd4 $19 31. Rce1 {[%eval -308,19] [%wdl 0,0,1000]} (31. Qb7 $142 {[%eval -181,18] [%wdl 0,9,991]} Rdd8 32. e6 Ne2+ 33. Rxe2 Bxe2 34. e7 Rd1+ (34... Qxa3 $2 35. Re1 $18) 35. Kg2 Rxc1 36. exf8=R+ Kxf8 37. Qb8+ Qe8 38. Bc5+ {[%mdl 64]} (38. Qxe8+ $2 Kxe8 39. Bxa7 Bb5 $19) 38... Rxc5 39. Qd6+ Kg8 (39... Qe7 $2 40. Qb8+ Qe8 41. Qd6+ Kg8 42. Qxc5 $19) 40. Qxc5) 31... Nc2 32. Re4 Qb3 33. Rc1 Rd2 34. e6 fxe6 35. Qf4 {[%eval -272,21] [%wdl 0,0,1000][%csl Oc2] Black had been playing quickly and intuitively in time trouble but now hard decisions have to be made.} (35. Qe5 $142 {[%eval -197,18] [%wdl 0,3,997]} exf5 (35... Qxa3 36. Qxe6+ Kh8 37. Rb1 $17) (35... Nxa3 36. Qxe6+ Qxe6 37. Rxe6 $11) 36. gxf5) 35... Rfd8 $2 $11 {[%eval 38,15] [%wdl 25,975,0]} (35... Bc6 $1 $19 {[%eval -272,21] [%wdl 0,0,1000][%cal Rc6e4] is the clear win.} 36. Qxd2 (36. Rxe6 $2 Qxe6 {[%mdl 64]} 37. Qxd2 Qe4 $19) (36. Rc4 $2 Rxf2 37. Kxf2 g5 $17) 36... Bxe4 37. Rxc2 (37. fxe6 Qxh3) 37... Bxc2 (37... Qxc2 $2 38. Qxc2 Bxc2 39. fxe6 $17) 38. fxe6 Qb1+ 39. Qe1 Qxe1+ 40. Bxe1 Re8) (35... Rd3) 36. fxe6 $14 Rd1+ $2 {[%eval 327,14] [%wdl 1000,0,0][%mdl 8192] Now white is much better.} (36... Qxa3 $14 {[%eval 37,22] [%wdl 23,977,0]} 37. Rf1 (37. Qf7+ Kh8 $11) 37... Qe7 (37... Qxh3 $2 38. Qf7+ Kh7 39. Qf5+ Kg8 40. e7 $18)) 37. Rxd1 $1 $18 Rxd1+ 38. Kg2 Bc6 {[%eval 393,19] [%wdl 1000,0,0]} (38... Rd8 {[%eval 270,15] [%wdl 1000,0,0]} 39. Qf7+ (39. Bxa7 Rf8 $15) 39... Kh7) 39. Qf7+ $2 {[%eval 0,52] [%wdl 2,996,2]} (39. e7 $18 {[%eval 393,19] [%wdl 1000,0,0]} Qf7 (39... Bxe4+ $2 40. Qxe4 Qf7 41. e8=Q+ $18) 40. Qe5) 39... Kh7 (39... Kh8 $5 40. Qf8+ $8 Kh7 41. Qf5+ g6 42. Qf7+ Kh8 $11) 40. Qf5+ $40 {[%mdl 128]} Kg8 $2 {[%eval 409,18] [%wdl 1000,0,0][%mdl 8192]} (40... g6 $1 $11 {[%eval 0,26] [%wdl 2,996,2]} 41. Qf7+ Kh8 42. Bd4+ {[%mdl 64]} Rxd4 {[%mdl 64]} 43. Qf6+ Kh7 44. Qf7+ Kh8) 41. e7 $1 Qb7 (41... Qd5 42. e8=R+) 42. Qe6+ Kh7 43. Qxc6 {[%mdl 576]} Qxc6 44. e8=Q (44. e8=R $2 Ne1+ 45. Bxe1 Rxe1 $19) 44... Qb7 45. Nf3 Rd6 46. Rf4 Rd2 {[%eval 32740,24] [%wdl 1000,0,0]} (46... Qc6 $18 {[%eval 459,20] [%wdl 1000,0,0]} 47. Qxc6 Rxc6) 47. Rf8 {[%csl Ge8][%cal Rf8h8]} Rxf2+ 48. Kxf2 {[%csl Ge8][%cal Rf8h8]} Qb6+ 49. Kg3 1-0

[Event "FIDE Women Candidates"]
[Site "Pegeia CYP"]
[Date "2026.04.12"]
[Round "12.4"]
[White "Divya, Deshmukh"]
[Black "Tan, Zhongyi"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Crowther, Mark"]
[ECO "C44"]
[EventDate "2026.03.29"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. g3 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bg2 d6 6. O-O O-O 7. c4 (7. h3 a5 8. Kh2 h6 9. c4 Bd7 10. Nc3 Re8 11. Nd2 Nd4 12. Nb3 Nxb3 13. axb3 c6 14. f4 b5 15. f5 Qb6 16. Qf3 Kf8 17. g4 Ke7 18. Ra2 a4 19. cxb5 axb3 20. Rxa8 Rxa8 21. h4 Rh8 22. Bh3 Kd8 23. Bd2 Kc7 24. Ra1 Kb8 25. Qd1 h5 26. Na4 Qxb5 27. Nxc5 dxc5 28. gxh5 Qxd3 29. Bc3 Qxd1 30. Bxe5+ Kc8 31. Rxd1 Rxh5 32. Bxf6 gxf6 33. Kg3 Rh8 34. Rd3 c4 35. Rc3 Kc7 36. Rxc4 Rb8 {1-0 Praggnanandhaa,R (2758)-Vidit,S (2708) Tata Steel India Blitz Kolkata 2026 (3)}) 7... Nd4 {[%eval 0,22] [%wdl 21,958,21]} (7... Bg4 $15 {[%eval -37,20] [%wdl 5,913,82]}) 8. h3 c6 9. Nc3 {[#]} a6 $146 (9... Bb6 10. Nxd4 Bxd4 11. Be3 c5 12. Qd2 Ne8 13. g4 Be6 14. f4 f6 15. f5 Bf7 16. Kh2 a6 17. Bf3 b5 18. cxb5 Bxe3 19. Qxe3 axb5 20. Nxb5 Bxa2 21. Bd1 Bf7 22. Ba4 Qb6 23. b3 Nc7 24. Nxc7 Qxc7 25. g5 Qe7 26. Rg1 Rab8 27. Rab1 Rb4 28. g6 hxg6 29. fxg6 Be6 30. Qf3 Rc8 31. Qh5 d5 32. Rbe1 dxe4 33. Rxe4 Rxe4 34. dxe4 Qb7 35. Qf3 Rd8 36. Rd1 Rd4 37. Rxd4 cxd4 38. Qd3 Qb4 39. Qa6 {0-1 Bakos,A (1792)-Szijarto,C (2038) HUN-chT2 Toth 1819 Hungary 2018 (3.7)}) 10. Be3 b5 {[%eval 30,20] [%wdl 65,928,7]} (10... Nxf3+ $142 {[%eval -16,21] [%wdl 11,950,39]} 11. Qxf3 Be6) 11. b3 {[%eval -21,23] [%wdl 10,945,45]} (11. Bxd4 $142 $1 {[%eval 30,20] [%wdl 65,928,7]} exd4 12. Ne2) 11... Qb6 12. Bxd4 $1 Bxd4 13. Nxd4 Qxd4 14. Ne2 Qb6 15. Kh2 Bb7 16. f4 Rfe8 17. Qc2 b4 18. g4 Rad8 {[%eval 51,21] [%wdl 75,925,0]} (18... exf4 $11 {[%eval 10,20] [%wdl 9,988,3]} 19. Nxf4 c5) 19. Rad1 {[%eval 8,20] [%wdl 8,988,4]} (19. Qd2 $14 {[%eval 51,21] [%wdl 75,925,0]}) 19... Nd7 {[%cal Bf6d7,Bd7f8,Bf8g6][%mdl 32]} 20. d4 {[%eval -20,22] [%wdl 2,982,16]} (20. f5 $14 {[%eval 43,21] [%wdl 49,950,1]}) 20... c5 21. d5 exf4 22. Nxf4 Re5 23. Nd3 Re7 24. Rf4 Nf8 25. Rdf1 Ng6 26. R4f2 {[%cal Oe4e5]} Rf8 {[%eval 97,25] [%wdl 465,535,0]} (26... Bc8 $14 {[%eval 40,20] [%wdl 38,961,1]}) 27. Qc1 {[%eval 0,44] [%wdl 5,990,5]} (27. e5 $1 $16 {[%eval 97,25] [%wdl 465,535,0]}) 27... Qd8 28. a3 a5 29. a4 {[%eval -40,22] [%wdl 1,961,38]} (29. axb4 $11 {[%eval 0,36] [%wdl 5,990,5]} axb4 30. Qe3) 29... Ree8 30. Qe3 Bc8 31. Qg3 Ne5 32. Nxe5 Rxe5 33. h4 h6 34. Rf4 Bd7 35. Qf2 {[%cal Rf4f7]} Qe7 36. Qg3 f6 37. R4f2 Qe8 38. Rf4 {[%eval -112,24] [%wdl 0,329,671]} (38. Kg1 $142 {[%eval -74,21] [%wdl 0,823,177]}) 38... Qg6 {[%csl Oe4]} 39. Qf3 Kf7 {[%eval -56,22] [%wdl 0,930,70]} (39... Qe8 $17 {[%eval -116,20] [%wdl 0,278,722]}) 40. Qg3 {[%eval -112,25] [%wdl 0,333,667]} (40. Rf5 $1 $15 {[%eval -56,22] [%wdl 0,930,70]} Bxf5 41. gxf5) 40... Ke7 $17 41. h5 {[%eval -157,16] [%wdl 0,34,966]} (41. Kg1 $142 {[%eval -112,23] [%wdl 0,326,674]}) 41... Qg5 42. Bf3 Re8 {[%eval -111,25] [%wdl 0,343,657]} (42... g6 {[%eval -156,20] [%wdl 0,35,965][%cal Rg6h5]} 43. hxg6 Qxg6) 43. Bd1 Kd8 44. Bc2 Kc7 45. R1f2 R5e7 46. Kg2 Qe5 47. Kh2 {[%eval -172,17] [%wdl 0,14,986]} (47. Rf1 $17 {[%eval -120,26] [%wdl 0,237,763]}) 47... Qd4 {[%eval -85,22] [%wdl 0,713,287]} (47... Qb2 $1 $19 {[%eval -172,17] [%wdl 0,14,986]} 48. Rg2 Re5) 48. Qd3 {[%eval -135,23] [%wdl 0,115,885]} (48. e5 $142 {[%eval -85,22] [%wdl 0,713,287]} Qxe5 49. Bg6) 48... Qa1 49. Rf1 Qe5 50. Qg3 Rg8 51. R1f2 Ree8 52. Rf5 {[%csl Oe5][%mdl 64]} Qe7 {[%eval -70,22] [%wdl 0,852,148]} (52... Qd4 $1 $17 {[%eval -127,18] [%wdl 0,168,832]} 53. R5f4 Re5) 53. R5f3 Qd8 54. Rf1 {[%eval -161,16] [%wdl 0,27,973]} (54. Rg2 $17 {[%eval -95,22] [%wdl 0,574,426]}) 54... Re7 {[%eval -100,23] [%wdl 0,502,498]} (54... Re5 $19 {[%eval -161,16] [%wdl 0,27,973]} 55. R1f2 g6 56. Rxf6 gxh5) 55. Rf4 {[%eval -178,18] [%wdl 0,10,990]} (55. Rf5 $17 {[%eval -100,23] [%wdl 0,502,498]}) 55... Qe8 {[%eval -114,20] [%wdl 0,303,697]} (55... Re5 $19 {[%eval -178,18] [%wdl 0,10,990]} 56. Bd3 Rg5) 56. Qf3 {[%eval -202,15] [%wdl 0,2,998]} (56. e5 $17 {[%eval -114,20] [%wdl 0,303,697]} Rxe5 (56... dxe5 57. R4f3 $15) 57. Kh1 (57. Bg6 Qe7 $17)) 56... Re5 $1 $19 57. Rf5 {[%eval -261,16] [%wdl 0,0,1000]} (57. Bd1 {[%eval -194,19] [%wdl 0,4,996]}) 57... g6 $1 58. Rxf6 gxh5 59. Rxh6 {[%eval -402,12] [%wdl 0,0,1000]} (59. Rf8 $142 {[%eval -281,20] [%wdl 0,0,1000]} Qg6 60. Qe3 (60. Rxg8 $2 Qxg8 61. Qf4 Qg7 $17)) 59... hxg4 60. Qf7 {[%eval -730,15] [%wdl 0,0,1000]} (60. Qg3 {[%eval -397,17] [%wdl 0,0,1000]} Rh5+ 61. Rxh5 Qxh5+ 62. Kg2) 60... Rh8 61. Rxh8 Qxh8+ 62. Kg1 g3 0-1

