[Event "FIDE Candidates 2026"]
[Site "Pegeia CYP"]
[Date "2026.04.14"]
[Round "13.1"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Sindarov, Javokhir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "Crowther,Mark"]
[ECO "D31"]
[EventDate "2026.03.29"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bf4 Nf6 6. e3 O-O 7. Bd3 c5 8. Nge2 Nc6 9. O-O Bg4 (9... cxd4 10. exd4 Bd6 11. Qd2 Re8 12. Ng3 Bxf4 13. Qxf4 Be6 14. Rad1 Qb8 15. Nge2 Qxf4 16. Nxf4 Rad8 17. h4 h6 18. f3 g5 19. hxg5 hxg5 20. Nfe2 Kg7 21. Kf2 Rh8 22. Rh1 Rxh1 23. Rxh1 Rh8 24. Rxh8 Kxh8 25. a3 Kg7 26. Ke3 Ne8 27. f4 f6 28. f5 Bf7 29. g4 Nd6 30. b3 Kf8 31. Nc1 Ke7 32. Be2 Ne8 33. Bf3 Nc7 34. N1e2 Kd6 35. Kd3 Ne7 36. Ng3 Be8 37. Kd2 Nb5 38. Nxb5+ Bxb5 39. Be2 {½-½ Lazavik,D (2605)-Carlsen,M (2840) London SpeedChess Final blitz 2026 (1.18)}) 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. h3 Bxe2 12. Nxe2 d4 {White is a little bit better, nothing more, but black will have to be precise.} 13. e4 {[#]} (13. Rc1 $5 Bb6 14. e4) 13... Re8 $146 (13... Nd7 14. a3 Re8 15. Rc1 Rc8 16. b4 Bf8 17. Bb1 a5 18. Nxd4 axb4 19. axb4 Nxb4 20. Rxc8 Qxc8 21. Nf5 Ne5 22. Qb3 Qe6 23. Qg3 Nbc6 24. Rd1 Ng6 25. Bc7 b5 26. h4 Nge5 27. h5 g6 28. Rd5 Nc4 29. hxg6 hxg6 30. Bd3 Nb4 31. Bxc4 {½-½ David,A (2528)-Mastrovasilis,A (2497) Paphos op 1st 2023 (5)}) 14. Ng3 Nd7 15. a3 (15. Bc4 {is preferred by the engines.} Qf6 16. Bd2 d3 17. Bc3) 15... Nde5 {Black is getting closer to equality.} (15... Bf8 {is also roughly the same.}) 16. Bxe5 (16. Bb1 d3 17. Ba2 Qh4 18. Qc1) 16... Nxe5 17. f4 Nxd3 18. Qxd3 Qb6 $1 $11 19. e5 Qa6 (19... Qxb2 {is also about equal.} 20. Ne4 Qb6 21. Rab1 Qc6 22. Nxc5 (22. Rfc1 b6) 22... Qxc5) 20. Qxa6 $6 {Black is quite equal here.} (20. Rad1) (20. Qf3 {was Sindarov's suggestion at keeping things complicated.} d3+ 21. Kh1 Rad8 22. Rad1 d2 {This is equal.}) 20... bxa6 21. Ne4 Bb6 22. Nd6 Re6 23. Nc4 f6 24. Rad1 fxe5 25. fxe5 Rd8 26. Rf4 d3+ 27. Kf1 Bc7 28. Re4 Rd5 29. Kf2 Bxe5 30. Rxe5 Rexe5 31. Nxe5 Rxe5 32. Rxd3 $11 {[%mdl 4096] This endgame is equal but white is the one who will be trying.} Rb5 33. b3 Kf7 34. a4 Rb7 35. Ke2 Ke6 36. Re3+ Kd6 37. Kd2 a5 38. Rg3 g6 39. Kc3 Rc7+ 40. Kb2 Rc5 41. h4 Re5 42. Rg4 Kc6 43. Rc4+ Kd6 44. g4 Re2+ 45. Ka3 {Black keeps white's King bottled in forever and that's enough to hold.} h6 46. Rd4+ Kc6 47. Rf4 Rh2 48. g5 hxg5 49. Rf6+ Kb7 50. hxg5 Rg2 51. Rxg6 {White can't make progress from here. Any b4 is met by Rg3+ and then axb4. The g pawn is controlled.} a6 52. Rg8 Ka7 53. Rg7+ Kb6 (53... Kb8 {is just as good and perhas even simpler.} 54. g6 Kc8 55. Rh7) 54. g6 Kc6 55. Ra7 Kb6 56. Rg7 Kc6 57. Ra7 {Nothing to be done now, white repeats for a draw.} Kb6 58. Rg7 Kc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2026"]
[Site "Pegeia CYP"]
[Date "2026.04.14"]
[Round "13.2"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Praggnanandhaa, R.."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "Crowther,Mark"]
[ECO "E21"]
[EventDate "2026.03.29"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 b6 5. Bg5 {[%cal Bc1g5,Bg5h4,Bh4g3][%mdl 32]} h6 6. Bh4 g5 7. Bg3 Ne4 8. Qc2 Bb7 9. e3 d6 10. Bd3 Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 f5 12. c5 Nd7 (12... bxc5 13. Qb3 Bd5 14. c4 Nxg3 15. cxd5 Nxh1 16. dxe6 g4) 13. cxd6 cxd6 14. O-O {[#]} Qe7 $146 (14... O-O 15. Nd2 Ndf6 16. Nxe4 Nxe4 17. f3 Nxg3 18. hxg3 Rc8 19. Rac1 Qe7 20. e4 f4 21. g4 e5 22. Qa4 Bc6 23. Bb5 Qd7 24. Qb3+ Kg7 25. a4 Qf7 26. Qb4 Rfd8 27. Rfd1 a5 28. Qb2 h5 29. dxe5 hxg4 30. Rxd6 Rxd6 31. exd6 Qf6 32. Rd1 gxf3 33. Bxc6 Rxc6 34. Qd2 f2+ 35. Kxf2 Rc8 36. Qd4 Kf7 37. Qd5+ Qe6 38. Qxg5 Rg8 39. Qxf4+ Ke8 40. d7+ Ke7 41. d8=Q+ Rxd8 42. Qc7+ {1-0 Moiseenko,A (2561)-Idani,P (2605) Chess.com Classic Div 3 W Chess.com INT rapid 2024 (1.3)}) 15. Bxe4 Bxe4 16. Qe2 Bb7 17. Nd2 h5 {[%eval 72,21] [%wdl 184,816,0] Too amibtious.} (17... e5 $11 {[%eval -6,20] [%wdl 3,991,6]}) 18. Nc4 $16 f4 19. exf4 {[%cal Be3f4,Bf4g5,Bg5g6,Bg6g7][%mdl 32]} h4 20. fxg5 $1 hxg3 21. fxg3 Rc8 $2 {[%eval 294,14] [%wdl 1000,0,0]} (21... Rg8 $16 {[%eval 133,18] [%wdl 877,123,0]}) 22. g6 $1 $18 Ba6 23. g7 $1 {[%mdl 512]} Rg8 24. Qh5+ Kd8 25. Rf7 Bxc4 26. Rxe7 Kxe7 27. Qg6 Nf6 28. d5 $1 {[%mdl 512]} Nxd5 {[%cal Od5f6]} 29. h4 Nf6 30. h5 Nxh5 31. Qxh5 Rxg7 {[%cal Oe7d7]} 32. Rd1 Bd5 33. Qh4+ (33. Qh6 Rf7 34. Qh4+ {may be more precise.}) 33... Kd7 34. Qa4+ Kd8 35. Rf1 Rxc3 36. Rf8+ Kc7 37. Qxa7+ Bb7 38. Qb8+ (38. g4 Rc1+ 39. Kh2 Rc4 40. Rb8 Kc6 41. Rc8+ Rc7 42. Rxc7+ Kxc7 43. Kh3) 38... Kc6 {[%cal Oc6c5]} 39. Qe8+ Kc5 40. Qxe6 $6 {[%eval 10,22] [%wdl 3,996,1] It hasn't been easy to exploit white's advantage and now he's no longer better.} (40. a4 $1 $16 {[%eval 79,23] [%wdl 201,799,0]} Rcxg3 41. Qb5+ (41. Qxe6 Rxg2+ 42. Kf1 Ba6+ 43. Ke1 Rg1+ 44. Kd2 R7g2+ 45. Kc3 Rc1+ 46. Kb3 Bc4+ $19) 41... Kd4 42. Qb4+ (42. Qxb6+ Kc3 $16) 42... Ke5 43. Qb2+ (43. Qxb6 Rxg2+ 44. Kf1 Be4 $11) 43... Kd5 44. Qb5+ (44. Qxb6 Rxg2+ 45. Kf1 Ke5 $16) 44... Kd4) 40... Rcxg3 $11 41. Rf5+ Kc6 $1 42. Rf2 Kc7 43. Rf7+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2026"]
[Site "Pegeia CYP"]
[Date "2026.04.14"]
[Round "13.3"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Bluebaum, Matthias"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "Crowther,Mark"]
[ECO "D53"]
[EventDate "2026.03.29"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. Nf3 h6 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. cxd5 exd5 8. e3 O-O 9. Qb3 c6 10. Bd3 Qb6 ({Relevant:} 10... Nd7 11. O-O Re8 12. h3 Nb6 13. Qc2 Nc4 14. Rfe1 Nd6 15. b4 a6 16. a4 Be6 17. a5 Rc8 18. Na4 Rc7 19. Ne5 g6 20. g4 Bh4 21. Nc5 Bc8 22. Re2 f5 23. f4 Rg7 24. Rg2 Rf8 25. Rf1 g5 26. Qe2 gxf4 27. exf4 Ne4 28. gxf5 Ng3 29. Qf3 Rxf5 30. Ng4 Qd6 31. Bxf5 Bxf5 32. Re1 h5 33. Re8+ Kf7 34. Nxb7 Qxb4 35. Rb2 Qxb2 36. Nd6+ Kg6 37. Nxf5 Nxf5 38. Ne5+ Kh7+ 39. Ng4 hxg4 40. hxg4 {0-1 Hakobyan,A (2613)-Maghsoodloo,P (2701) Yerevan Asrian Memorial Rapid 2025 (6)}) 11. Qc2 Be6 12. O-O Nd7 13. Na4 Qb4 14. a3 {[#]} Qe7 $146 ({Predecessor:} 14... Qd6 15. b4 b6 16. Rfc1 Rfc8 17. Ba6 Rc7 18. Nc3 Bd8 19. Qb3 Nb8 20. Bf1 g6 21. b5 Rc8 22. bxc6 a6 23. Qb4 Qc7 24. Ne5 Nxc6 25. Nxc6 Qxc6 26. Ne2 a5 27. Qb3 a4 28. Qb4 Qb7 29. Rxc8 Qxc8 30. Nf4 Bg5 31. Nxe6 Qxe6 32. g3 Kg7 33. Rb1 Be7 34. Bh3 Qd6 35. Qxd6 Bxd6 {½-½ Hildebrand,G (2131)-Lemke,B (2095) GER DSF C21 f email ICCF email rapid 2022}) 15. b4 b5 16. Nc5 Nxc5 17. bxc5 a5 18. a4 {[%eval -40,18] [%wdl 1,960,39]} (18. h3 $11 {[%eval 8,19] [%wdl 7,990,3]}) 18... b4 $15 {Black is maybe a fraction better but it doesn't turn out to be anything.} 19. Rae1 Qd7 20. Nd2 g6 21. f4 Bf5 22. Bxf5 Qxf5 23. Qxf5 gxf5 24. Nf3 Kh7 25. Kf2 Rae8 26. Ke2 Rg8 27. g3 Re6 28. Kd3 Rg7 29. Rg1 h5 30. h3 Kg8 31. Ref1 Bd8 32. Ne5 Bc7 33. Nf3 Bd8 34. Rf2 Rh6 35. Rfg2 Kf8 36. Ke2 Rg8 37. Rh2 Rg7 38. Ne5 Bc7 39. Nd3 Ke7 40. Kf3 Rg8 41. Rhg2 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2026"]
[Site "Pegeia CYP"]
[Date "2026.04.14"]
[Round "13.4"]
[White "Wei Yi"]
[Black "Esipenko, Andrey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Crowther,Mark"]
[ECO "C42"]
[EventDate "2026.03.29"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. c4 Be7 6. d4 d5 7. Bd3 $1 {[%mdl 4]} Bb4+ (7... Bf5 8. O-O dxc4 9. Bxc4 O-O 10. Re1 Nd6 11. Bd5 Na6 12. a3 c6 13. Bb3 Nc7 14. Nc3 Ndb5 15. Nxb5 Nxb5 16. d5 Bg4 17. dxc6 Bxf3 18. gxf3 bxc6 19. Be3 Bf6 20. Rc1 Bxb2 21. Rxc6 Nd4 22. Rc4 Nxb3 23. Qxb3 Qa5 24. Rb1 Bf6 25. Rc5 Qa6 26. Rc7 Be5 27. Rb7 Qg6+ 28. Kf1 Bxh2 29. Rd1 Rab8 30. Rdd7 Rxb7 31. Qxb7 h5 32. Bxa7 h4 33. Qe4 Qxe4 34. fxe4 Be5 35. Kg2 g5 36. Be3 g4 37. Bd4 {1-0 Vachier Lagrave,M (2732)-Duda,J (2732) Titled Tuesday intern op 06th Feb Late Chess.com INT blitz 2024 (7)}) 8. Kf1 c6 {[#]} 9. Qc2 $146 (9. Qb3 Be7 10. cxd5 Nf6 11. Nc3 O-O 12. Bg5 cxd5 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. Nxd5 Nc6 15. Nxf6+ Qxf6 16. d5 Ne7 17. Rd1 Rd8 18. Be4 Nf5 19. h3 Nd6 20. Bb1 Bd7 21. Kg1 Bb5 22. Bd3 Bxd3 23. Rxd3 Rac8 24. Kh2 Ne4 25. Rd4 Ng5 26. Rhd1 Nxf3+ 27. gxf3 Qd6+ 28. Kg2 b6 29. Re4 h6 30. Qe3 Kh7 31. Qe2 Rc5 32. Red4 Qg6+ 33. Kh2 Rc2 34. R1d2 Rc1 35. Rd1 Rc2 36. R1d2 Rc1 37. Rd1 Rc2 {½-½ Mamedov,R (2680)-Kuzubov,Y (2646) TUR-chT Kocaeli 2017 (10.5)}) 9... O-O 10. a3 Ba5 11. Bf4 Nd7 12. Nc3 Bxc3 13. bxc3 Qa5 {[%eval 15,21] [%wdl 18,978,4]} (13... Re8 {[%eval -21,18] [%wdl 3,974,23]}) 14. cxd5 $11 cxd5 15. c4 b6 16. Nd2 f5 17. Kg1 {[%cal Bf1g1,Bg1h2,Bh2h3][%mdl 32]} Bb7 18. f3 {[%eval 1,19] [%wdl 7,986,7]} (18. h4 $14 {[%eval 42,19] [%wdl 53,946,1]}) 18... Rac8 {[%eval 52,17] [%wdl 84,915,1]} 19. h4 $14 (19. fxe4 fxe4 20. Bxe4 Rxf4 $15 (20... dxe4 $2 21. Be3 $19)) 19... Ndc5 {[%eval 130,16] [%wdl 814,186,0]} (19... h6) (19... Ba6) 20. dxc5 $2 $16 {This doesn't work.} Qxc5+ 21. Kh2 Qf2 22. Kh3 $1 {Everything else is at least equal for black.} (22. Nxe4 Qxh4+ 23. Kg1 Qxf4 $15) 22... Qd4 23. Bxe4 (23. fxe4 fxe4 24. Bxe4 Rxf4 $14) 23... fxe4 24. Bg3 e3 25. Nb3 Qf6 26. c5 Ba6 27. Rac1 $1 bxc5 28. Qd1 {[%eval 18,23] [%wdl 7,992,1] Black has fought his way back into the game but blunders again.} (28. Nxc5 $16 {[%eval 133,18] [%wdl 875,125,0]} Bc4 29. Nb7) 28... Bc4 {[%eval 62,20] [%wdl 93,907,0]} (28... d4 $11 {[%eval 18,23] [%wdl 7,992,1]} 29. Nxc5 (29. Nxc5 Qf5+ 30. Kh2 Rxc5 31. Qxd4 Rfc8 32. Rxc5 Qxc5 33. Qe4 $11) 29... d3 (29... Qf5+ 30. Kh2 $16) 30. Qb3+ (30. Nxd3 Qf5+ 31. Kh2 Qxd3 $11) 30... Kh8 31. Nxa6 (31. Nxd3 Qf5+ 32. Kh2 Qxd3 $14) 31... Qxa6) (28... Qf5+ 29. Kh2 d4 30. Nxd4 cxd4 31. Qxd4 {is also playable.}) 29. Na5 $14 Qe6+ 30. Kh2 Ba6 31. Nb3 Bc4 32. Na5 Ba6 33. Nb3 Bc4 34. Re1 $1 {[%cal Oc1c4]} Rfe8 {[%eval 176,17] [%wdl 989,11,0]} (34... h6 $16 {[%eval 99,18] [%wdl 483,517,0]}) 35. Na5 $1 $18 Ba6 36. Nb3 Bc4 37. Na5 Ba6 38. Qa4 Red8 {[%eval 206,15] [%wdl 998,2,0]} (38... Qb6 {[%eval 166,18] [%wdl 981,19,0]}) 39. Nb3 Bc4 40. Na5 (40. Rc3 e2) 40... Ba6 {Both players make time control and it's +2 advantage for white according to the engine evaluation.} 41. Nb3 {[%cal Ba5b3,Bb3c1,Bc1d3][%mdl 32]} Bc4 42. Rc3 e2 {[%eval 293,21] [%wdl 1000,0,0]} (42... Bxb3 {[%eval 180,19] [%wdl 992,8,0]} 43. Qxb3 c4 44. Rcxe3 cxb3 45. Rxe6 d4) 43. Nc1 (43. Qxa7 d4 44. Nxc5 Rxc5 45. Qxc5 dxc3 $17) 43... Qa6 44. Qc2 (44. Qxa6 Bxa6 45. Nxe2 d4 $16) 44... Re8 45. Nd3 Qf6 46. Rxe2 (46. Rxc4 dxc4 47. Qxc4+ Kh8 $14) 1-0

[Event "FIDE Women Candidates"]
[Site "Pegeia CYP"]
[Date "2026.04.14"]
[Round "13.1"]
[White "Zhu, Jiner"]
[Black "Goryachkina, Aleksandra"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Crowther,Mark"]
[ECO "C55"]
[EventDate "2026.03.29"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 h6 5. c3 Bc5 6. b4 Be7 {now supersedes 6...Bb6.} 7. O-O (7. Qb3 O-O 8. a4 d6 9. a5 Nb8 10. Nbd2 c6 11. Qa2 d5 12. Bb3 Qc7 13. O-O Be6 14. Re1 Nbd7 15. Nf1 Rad8 16. Ng3 Rfe8 17. Bd2 a6 18. Rac1 Bf8 19. c4 dxe4 20. dxe4 c5 21. b5 Bg4 22. Nh4 g6 23. h3 Be6 24. Nf3 Kh7 25. Nh2 Rc8 26. Ba4 axb5 27. Bxb5 h5 28. Nf3 Kg8 29. Ng5 Re7 30. Nf1 Nb8 31. Ne3 Nc6 32. Nd5 Bxd5 33. cxd5 Nd4 34. d6 Qxd6 35. Bc4 Qd7 36. Rb1 Rc6 {1-0 Firouzja,A (2813)-Radjabov,T (2646) Wch Blitz op Doha 2025 (7)}) 7... O-O 8. Bb2 a6 9. a4 d5 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. b5 axb5 12. axb5 {[%csl Oa8][%mdl 64]} Rxa1 13. Bxa1 {[%cal Oc4d5]} Na5 14. Bxd5 Qxd5 15. c4 Qd8 16. Bc3 b6 17. Bxa5 (17. Nxe5 Bd6 18. Qf3 Qg5 19. Re1) 17... bxa5 18. Nxe5 Bd6 19. Nc6 {[%csl Ba5,Bd8]} Qh4 {[%csl Gd6][%cal Rh4h2]} 20. g3 $1 {[#]} (20. Nxa5 Qxh2#) 20... Qf6 $146 (20... Qh3 21. Nd2 Bg4 22. Qe1 Qh5 23. Qe3 f6 24. Re1 Bd7 25. Qe2 Qxe2 26. Rxe2 a4 27. d4 Bxc6 28. bxc6 Bb4 29. d5 Kf7 30. Nf3 {½-½ Kimlong,L (2351)-Tomasa,I (2351) EU-ch 0035 sf19 email ICCF email 2024}) 21. Nd2 {[%cal Od2e4]} (21. Nxa5 Bh3 22. Nd2 Bb4 $17) 21... Bb4 $1 22. Ne4 Qb2 23. Qc1 Qe2 24. Qe3 Qb2 25. Qc1 Qe2 26. Qe3 Qb2 27. Rd1 f5 28. Nc5 Bxc5 29. Qxc5 Qe2 30. Ra1 Re8 31. d4 $36 {[%cal Oc6e5][%mdl 2048]} (31. Nxa5 $6 f4 32. Qd5+ (32. Qxc7 Bh3) 32... Kh7 $17) 31... f4 32. Ne5 (32. gxf4 $6 Re4 33. Qa3 (33. Nxa5 Bh3 34. Qd5+ Kh8 35. Qd8+ Kh7) (33. Rxa5 Qg4+ 34. Kf1 Qh3+ 35. Kg1 Re1#) 33... Kh7 $17) (32. Nxa5 Bh3 33. Qd5+ Kh7) 32... fxg3 33. hxg3 Rf8 $1 34. Qd5+ (34. Rxa5 Qe1+ 35. Kh2 Rxf2#) 34... Kh7 35. Qg2 {[%cal Og2f1]} (35. Rxa5 Qxf2+ 36. Kh1 Qf1+ 37. Kh2 Qh3+ 38. Kg1 Rf1#) 35... Qb2 {[%csl Ba1,Bd4]} (35... Bh3 $5 36. Qxh3 Qxf2+ 37. Kh1 Qxd4 $11) 36. Rd1 (36. Rxa5 Qxd4 37. Nc6 Qxc4 $15) 36... a4 37. f3 $1 Qb3 38. Rd3 Qb1+ 39. Qf1 Qb4 $6 {[%eval 121,17] [%wdl 793,207,0]} (39... Qb2 $14 {[%eval 68,19] [%wdl 110,890,0]} 40. Qd1 Kg8 (40... a3 $2 41. Rb3 $18)) 40. g4 $2 {[%eval 21,21] [%wdl 6,994,0]} (40. Qc1 $1 $16 {[%eval 121,17] [%wdl 793,207,0]}) 40... Qb2 $2 {[%eval 153,19] [%wdl 969,31,0]} (40... a3 $11 {[%eval 21,21] [%wdl 6,994,0]} 41. Qa1 Bxg4) 41. Qd1 Bb7 42. Rd2 (42. Qxa4 $2 Ra8 43. Qd1 Ra2 $19) 42... Qb4 {[%cal Ob7f3]} 43. g5 $2 {[%eval 14,19] [%wdl 4,995,1]} (43. Re2 Kg8 44. Qd3 a3 45. Kf2 Rd8 46. Ra2) 43... Bc8 $6 {[%eval 75,21] [%wdl 162,838,0]} (43... g6 $1 $11 {[%eval 14,19] [%wdl 4,995,1]}) 44. Qc2+ {[%eval 0,31] [%wdl 2,997,1]} (44. Qc1 $16 {[%eval 75,21] [%wdl 162,838,0]}) 44... Bf5 $11 45. g6+ Kg8 46. Qa2 Be6 47. Kf2 a3 48. Re2 (48. Rd3 Ra8 49. Rd1 Qb2+ (49... Qxb5 50. Qxa3 Qe8 51. Qd3 $16) 50. Qxb2 axb2 $17) 48... Qe7 49. Re4 Qb4 50. Nc6 Qd6 51. Re5 $2 {[%eval -276,14] [%wdl 0,0,1000][%mdl 8192] and suddenly for the first time Zhu is losing.} (51. Kg2 $11 {[%eval 0,47] [%wdl 2,997,1]}) 51... Kh8 $1 $19 52. Ke3 {[%eval -425,15] [%wdl 0,0,1000]} (52. Kg2 $142 {[%eval -272,16] [%wdl 0,0,1000]} Bd7 53. Re3 Bxc6 (53... Qxg6+ 54. Kf2 $11) 54. bxc6) 52... Bd7 {[%csl Bc6,Bg6][%mdl 64]} 53. Re4 Bxc6 54. bxc6 Qg3 55. Qf2 Qxg6 56. d5 Qf6 57. Qe2 {[%eval -1974,15] [%wdl 0,0,1000]} (57. Kd3 $142 {[%eval -494,17] [%wdl 0,0,1000]} Rb8 58. Qc2) 57... a2 $1 {[%mdl 512]} (57... a2 58. Qxa2 Qc3+ 59. Ke2 Qxf3+ 60. Kd2 Qxe4) 0-1

[Event "FIDE Women Candidates"]
[Site "Pegeia CYP"]
[Date "2026.04.14"]
[Round "13.2"]
[White "Tan, Zhongyi"]
[Black "Vaishali, Rameshbabu"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "Crowther,Mark"]
[ECO "D31"]
[EventDate "2026.03.29"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 dxc4 4. e4 c5 5. d5 exd5 6. exd5 Bd6 7. Bxc4 Ne7 8. Nge2 (8. Nf3 O-O 9. O-O Ng6 10. Bg5 f6 11. Be3 a6 12. Ne4 Re8 13. Nxd6 Qxd6 14. Rc1 Bf5 15. b4 cxb4 16. Bb3 Nd7 17. Rc6 Qf8 18. Rc7 Nge5 19. Nxe5 fxe5 20. d6+ Kh8 21. Rxb7 Rab8 22. Ra7 Red8 23. Rxa6 Nf6 24. h3 Ne4 25. Qf3 Nc3 26. Bg5 e4 27. Qe3 Rxd6 28. Ra7 Rc8 29. Be7 {1-0 Bluebaum,M (2684)-Fedoseev,V (2704) 3rd Thursday Mar 05th Chess.com INT blitz 2026 (9)}) 8... O-O {[#]} 9. Bg5 $146 {[%cal Bc1g5,Bg5h4,Bh4g3,Bg3c7][%mdl 32]} (9. Ne4 Nf5 10. O-O Bxh2+ 11. Kxh2 Qh4+ 12. Kg1 Qxe4 13. b3 Nd7 14. Bf4 Nb6 15. f3 Qe7 16. Re1 Qf6 17. Qd2 Nxc4 18. bxc4 Bd7 19. Ng3 Nxg3 20. Bxg3 Rfe8 21. Qf4 Qxf4 22. Bxf4 Ba4 23. Bd6 b6 24. Rxe8+ Rxe8 25. Kf2 f6 26. Rc1 Kf7 27. Rc3 a6 28. Kg3 Bd7 29. Ra3 Bc8 30. Kf2 Kg6 31. Rb3 b5 32. cxb5 Rd8 33. Be7 Rxd5 34. b6 Bb7 35. Rc3 Rd2+ 36. Kg3 Rxa2 37. Rxc5 Rb2 38. Rc7 Rxb6 {½-½ Cleto Junior,D (2063)-Denisov,T (2149) FICGS class A 000242 email FICGS email 2021 (1)}) 9... Nd7 10. O-O h6 11. Bh4 Nb6 12. b3 Bf5 13. Nb5 a6 14. Nxd6 Qxd6 15. Bg3 Qf6 {[%cal Oe7d5]} 16. Bc7 Rfe8 {[%eval 101,16] [%wdl 507,493,0]} (16... Be4 $11 {[%eval 23,19] [%wdl 21,977,2]}) (16... Nxc4 17. bxc4) 17. Ng3 $16 Nd7 {[%eval 170,16] [%wdl 971,29,0]} (17... Nxc4 $16 {[%eval 95,18] [%wdl 443,557,0]} 18. bxc4 Ng6) 18. d6 {[%eval 131,19] [%wdl 820,180,0]} (18. Rc1 $18 {[%eval 170,16] [%wdl 971,29,0]}) 18... Nc6 19. Nxf5 Qxf5 20. Bd5 Re5 21. Bf3 h5 22. Re1 Rae8 23. Rxe5 Rxe5 {[%eval 132,19] [%wdl 882,118,0]} (23... Ndxe5 $142 {[%eval 94,20] [%wdl 418,582,0]} 24. Bxh5 g6) 24. Bxc6 bxc6 25. Qf1 $1 Rd5 26. Qe2 {[%eval 5,22] [%wdl 2,997,1]} (26. Qxa6 $16 {[%eval 99,16] [%wdl 476,524,0][%cal Oa6e2]} Rd2 27. Rf1 (27. Qxc6 Qxf2+ 28. Kh1 Rxa2 $15)) 26... Ne5 $11 {[%cal Bd7e5,Be5d3,Bd3f4][%mdl 32]} 27. h3 Nd3 28. Qe8+ Kh7 29. Rf1 (29. Qxc6 $2 Qxf2+ 30. Kh1 Nf4 $19) 29... Nf4 30. Re1 {[%cal Oe8e4]} (30. Qxc6 Qe4) 30... Nd3 {[%csl Be1,Bf2]} 31. Rf1 Nf4 32. Re1 {[%cal Oe8e4]} (32. Qxc6 Qe4) (32. d7 Qxd7 (32... Rxd7 $2 33. Bxf4 a5 34. Be3 $18) 33. Qxd7 Ne2+ 34. Kh2 Rxd7) 32... Nd3 {[%csl Be1,Bf2]} 33. Rf1 Nf4 34. Re1 (34. Qxc6 Qe4) 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Women Candidates"]
[Site "Pegeia CYP"]
[Date "2026.04.14"]
[Round "13.3"]
[White "Assaubayeva, Bibisara"]
[Black "Muzychuk, Anna"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Crowther,Mark"]
[ECO "C45"]
[EventDate "2026.03.29"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. Qe2 ({Relevant:} 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5 8. g3 g6 9. c4 Ba6 10. Bg2 Bg7 11. O-O O-O 12. Re1 Rfe8 13. Qc2 Qc5 14. Nd2 Nb4 15. Qb3 Rxe5 16. Rxe5 Qxe5 17. Nf3 Qd6 18. Bf4 Qc5 19. a3 Na2 20. Bf1 d5 21. Qxa2 Bxc4 22. Bxc4 dxc4 23. Rc1 Qd5 24. Nd2 a5 25. a4 Be5 26. Qxc4 Bxf4 27. Qxd5 cxd5 28. gxf4 Rb8 29. b3 Rb4 30. Rxc7 Rd4 31. Nf1 Rxf4 32. Rc5 Rg4+ 33. Ng3 h5 34. Rxd5 h4 35. h3 Rf4 {1-0 So,W (2753)-Sargsyan,S (2656) Chess.com Play In4 Chess.com INT blitz 2026 (4)}) 6... Qe7 {The most common move but black doesn't really do that well.} 7. Nc3 d5 {[%eval 68,16] [%wdl 179,821,0]} (7... g6 $11 {[%eval 15,18] [%wdl 18,978,4] is better.}) 8. exd5 $1 $14 Nxd5 (8... Qxe2+ 9. Bxe2 cxd5) 9. Bd2 Bg4 {[%mdl 64]} 10. f3 Qxe2+ 11. Bxe2 Be6 12. O-O-O Be7 13. Nxd5 cxd5 14. Bb5+ $1 Bd7 {[#]} 15. Rhe1 $146 {[%cal Od2b4]} ({Predecessor:} 15. Bxd7+ Kxd7 16. Bf4 Kc6 17. Rhe1 Bf6 18. Be5 Rhe8 19. Bxf6 gxf6 20. Kd2 Re6 21. Kc3 Rae8 22. Rxe6+ fxe6 23. Rd4 Rg8 24. g3 a5 25. Rh4 Rg7 26. Rf4 Rg6 27. Kd3 Rh6 28. h4 e5 29. Rf5 Rg6 30. g4 Kc5 31. h5 Rg7 32. Rxf6 e4+ 33. Ke3 Re7 34. fxe4 Rxe4+ 35. Kf3 Re1 36. Rh6 Rf1+ 37. Ke2 Rg1 38. Rxh7 Rxg4 39. Rxc7+ Kb6 40. Rf7 Rh4 41. Rf6+ Kc5 42. h6 Rh2+ 43. Ke3 Rxc2 44. Rf2 d4+ {1-0 Guerrero Vargas,A (2302)-Benito Colmenares,J (2157) VEN-ch Santo Domingo 2018 (10)}) 15... Bxb5 16. Bb4 O-O-O 17. Rxe7 Rd7 18. Rxd7 Bxd7 19. Rxd5 $16 {[%mdl 4096] Black had to give up a pawn even to stay in the game.} h5 $2 {[%eval 184,18] [%wdl 996,4,0]} (19... Re8 $16 {[%eval 79,21] [%wdl 205,795,0]}) 20. Bc3 $1 $18 f6 21. h4 {[%eval 93,21] [%wdl 395,605,0]} (21. Rc5 $18 {[%eval 188,21] [%wdl 997,3,0]} h4 22. Ba5 c6 23. Kd1 g5 24. h3) 21... Be6 {[%eval 130,17] [%wdl 874,126,0]} (21... Rh6 $142 {[%eval 93,21] [%wdl 395,605,0]} 22. Be1 Rg6) 22. Rc5 $16 Kb7 23. a4 Bf7 24. b4 {[%eval 47,21] [%wdl 31,969,0]} (24. Ba5 $16 {[%eval 98,20] [%wdl 466,534,0]} Rc8 25. b3) 24... Rd8 25. b5 Rd5 26. Rc6 Rd6 27. Rxd6 cxd6 $14 {The engine thinks this is fine but holding this is very hard.} 28. Kd2 Be6 $2 {[%eval 218,17] [%wdl 1000,0,0] Already black is lost.} (28... a6 $14 {[%eval 61,21] [%wdl 70,930,0]}) 29. Bb4 $1 $18 Kc7 30. Ke3 Bc4 {[%eval 247,18] [%wdl 1000,0,0]} (30... g5 $142 {[%eval 173,18] [%wdl 992,8,0]} 31. g3 Bd7 32. Ba5+ Kb7) 31. Ba5+ $2 {[%eval 68,19] [%wdl 109,891,0]} (31. Ke4 $18 {[%eval 247,18] [%wdl 1000,0,0]}) 31... Kd7 $14 32. Bc3 a6 $2 {[%eval 335,15] [%wdl 1000,0,0][%mdl 8192]} (32... Ke6 $1 $14 {[%eval 66,21] [%wdl 95,905,0]} 33. g4 g6) 33. b6 $18 Bf7 34. a5 Bg6 35. Kd2 Bf5 36. Bd4 Kc6 37. c3 Bc8 38. Ke3 Kd5 39. g4 $1 {[%mdl 512]} g6 {[%cal Bg7g6,Bg6h5][%mdl 32]} (39... Ke6 40. gxh5) 40. Bxf6 Bb7 41. Kf4 Ke6 42. Kg5 {[%csl Bg6,Bh5]} Kf7 43. gxh5 gxh5 44. f4 1-0

[Event "FIDE Women Candidates"]
[Site "Pegeia CYP"]
[Date "2026.04.14"]
[Round "13.4"]
[White "Lagno, Kateryna"]
[Black "Divya, Deshmukh"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Crowther,Mark"]
[ECO "B15"]
[EventDate "2026.03.29"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Nxf6+ exf6 6. g3 Bd6 7. Bg2 O-O 8. Ne2 Bg4 9. O-O Qd7 $146 (9... Re8 10. Re1 Na6 11. a3 Nc7 12. Qd3 Qd7 13. Bd2 Bf5 14. Qb3 Ne6 15. Be3 Ng5 16. Nf4 Be4 17. Bxe4 Rxe4 18. Kg2 Rae8 19. Rf1 Bxf4 20. Bxf4 Qh3+ 21. Kh1 Rxf4) 10. Re1 Na6 11. a3 h5 (11... Rad8) 12. Qd3 {[%eval 9,19] [%wdl 13,981,6]} (12. d5 $14 {[%eval 47,15] [%wdl 76,923,1]}) 12... Rad8 $11 13. Be3 Qc8 (13... Rfe8 14. d5 Nc5 15. Bxc5 Bxc5 $11) 14. c4 Nc7 {[%eval 79,16] [%wdl 266,734,0]} (14... Rfe8 $14 {[%eval 37,19] [%wdl 48,950,2]}) 15. d5 $16 {Black has got tangled up and now she plays a losing move.} Be5 $2 {[%eval 238,18] [%wdl 999,1,0]} (15... cxd5 $16 {[%eval 71,20] [%wdl 198,802,0]} 16. Rac1 d4 17. Bxd4 (17. Nxd4 Be5 $17) 17... Ne6) 16. Qb3 $2 {[%eval 40,20] [%wdl 54,945,1] Misses her chance.} (16. Bxa7 cxd5 17. Nc3 (17. cxd5 Bxb2 18. Rad1 Be5 $11) 17... Bf5 $17) (16. f4 $1 $18 {[%eval 238,18] [%wdl 999,1,0][%cal Rf4e5]} Bd6 17. c5 Nxd5 18. cxd6) 16... cxd5 $1 $14 17. cxd5 b6 18. Rad1 {[%eval 7,19] [%wdl 10,985,5]} (18. Bf4 $14 {[%eval 49,18] [%wdl 73,926,1]}) 18... Qa6 $6 {[%eval 81,15] [%wdl 281,719,0] A wrong plan.} (18... h4 $11 {[%eval 7,19] [%wdl 10,985,5]}) 19. Rd2 $16 Rd7 $2 {[%eval 204,18] [%wdl 994,6,0]} (19... Qb5 $16 {[%eval 74,19] [%wdl 212,788,0]} 20. Qxb5 Nxb5) 20. Nd4 $18 (20. f3 Bf5 21. f4 Bd6 22. Nd4 Bh7 23. Bf2 {Also strong.}) 20... Bxd4 21. Rxd4 (21. Bxd4 Qb5 22. Qxb5 Nxb5 $14) 21... Rfd8 22. h3 {[%cal Bh2h3,Bh3g4][%mdl 32]} Bf5 23. Rc1 Ne8 24. g4 hxg4 25. hxg4 Bg6 26. Bf1 {[%cal Bg2f1,Bf1b5,Bb5c6][%mdl 32] Lagno smoothly drives black's pieces onto bad squares.} Qb7 27. Bb5 Re7 {[%cal Bd7e7,Be7e2,Be2c2][%mdl 32]} 28. Bc6 Qb8 29. Bf4 {[%cal Be3f4,Bf4d6,Bd6c7][%mdl 32]} Nd6 30. Qg3 Re2 31. Kf1 Rc2 (31... Rxb2 32. Kg2 $18) 32. Re1 Rxb2 33. Bxd6 Qc8 (33... Rxd6 34. Re8+) 34. Bc7 Rf8 35. d6 {[%cal Bd5d6,Bd6d7][%mdl 32]} Rc2 36. d7 Qa6+ 37. Kg1 1-0

