[Event "FIDE Candidates 2026"]
[Site "Pegeia CYP"]
[Date "2026.04.05"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Sindarov, Javokhir"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "Crowther,Mark"]
[ECO "D38"]
[EventDate "2026.03.29"]

1.  d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 O-O 8. Rc1 dxc4 9. Bxc4 c5 10. O-O cxd4 11. Ne4 (11. Nxd4 Bd7 12. Qb3 Nc6 13. Nxc6 Bxc3 14. Rxc3 Bxc6 15. Bb5 Bd5 16. Bc4 Bc6 17. Bb5 Bd5 18. Bc4 Bc6 {½-½ Nihal,S (2716)-Sargsyan,S (2656) Chess.com Play In4 Chess.com INT blitz 2026 (9)}) 11... Qe7 12. exd4 Rd8 13. Qe2 Nc6 14. Rfd1 Ba5 15. Bb5 Bd7 16. Nc5 Be8 17. d5 exd5 18. Qxe7 Nxe7 19. Nxb7 Rdb8 20. Nxa5 Rxb5 21. Nb3 a5 {[%cal Ba7a5,Ba5a4][%mdl 32]} 22. Rd2 a4 23. Nbd4 Rb7 {[#]} 24. h3 $146 (24. Ne5 Rc8 25. Rxc8 Nxc8 26. b3 axb3 27. axb3 Nd6 28. Nd3 Nb5 29. Nb4 Nxd4 30. Rxd4 Ra7 31. Rd1 Rb7 32. Rd4 Rc7 33. f3 Rc1+ 34. Kf2 Rb1 35. Rd3 Rb2+ 36. Kg1 Rb1+ 37. Kf2 Rb2+ 38. Kg1 Rb1+ {½-½ Ruck,R (2531)-Dizdar,G (2541) AUT-chT 0607 Austria 2006 (7)}) 24... Rab8 25. b3 axb3 26. axb3 f6 27. g4 h5 28. Ne1 hxg4 29. hxg4 Ng6 30. f3 Ne5 31. Kf2 g5 32. Nd3 Bd7 33. Kg3 Nxd3 (33... Rc8 34. Rxc8+ Bxc8 {is probably the way to complete equality.}) 34. Rxd3 Rb6 35. Rd2 Kf7 {[%cal Of6f5]} 36. Rc5 R8b7 37. Rh2 Rd6 38. Kf2 Kg7 $6 {[%eval 85,21] [%wdl 275,725,0] Now black has to be careful.} (38... f5 $11 {[%eval 28,22] [%wdl 9,991,0]}) 39. Ra5 Rb4 40. Ke3 Rdb6 41. Rxd5 {[%eval 0,34] [%wdl 2,996,2] Allowing black to sacrifice the exchange to achieve a fortress.} (41. Rc2 $16 {[%eval 91,22] [%wdl 359,641,0]} Rb7 42. Rxd5) 41... Be6 42. Rd8 Rxb3+ 43. Nxb3 Rxb3+ $11 {[%mdl 4096]} 44. Kf2 Rb2+ (44... Bxg4 {Funnily enough this is a draw. Giri of course didn't see this.}) 45. Kg3 Rxh2 46. Kxh2 Kf7 {The position is a theoretical draw, Giri was never in any trouble.} 47. Kg3 Ke7 48. Ra8 Kf7 49. Ra7+ Kf8 50. Kf2 Ke8 51. Ke3 Kf8 52. Kd4 Ke8 53. Kc5 Kf8 54. Rb7 Ba2 55. Rc7 Bb3 56. Kd6 Ba2 57. Rc2 Bb3 58. Rb2 Bc4 59. Rb4 Ba2 60. Rb5 Kf7 61. Rb7+ Kf8 62. Rb2 Bc4 63. Rf2 Bb3 64. Rf1 Bc4 65. Ra1 Bb3 66. Ra3 Bc4 67. Ra5 Kf7 68. Ra7+ Kf8 69. Kd7 Kf7 70. Rc7 Bb3 71. Rc5 Be6+ 72. Kc6 Bb3 73. Rf5 Be6 74. Kd6 Bb3 75. Rb5 Ba2 76. Rb4 Kf8 77. f4 {[%eval 96,19] [%wdl 431,569,0]} (77. Ra4 $11 {[%eval 0,29] [%wdl 1,998,1]} Bb3 78. Ra8+ Kg7 79. Ra7+ Kf8 80. Ra3) 77... gxf4 $16 78. Rxf4 Kg7 79. Ke7 Kg6 80. Rxf6+ Kg5 81. Rf2 Bb3 82. Rg2 Bd1 83. Ke6 Bxg4+ 84. Ke5 Kh5 85. Rxg4 Kxg4 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2026"]
[Site "Pegeia CYP"]
[Date "2026.04.05"]
[Round "7.2"]
[White "Praggnanandhaa, R"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "Crowther,Mark"]
[ECO "D17"]
[EventDate "2026.03.29"]

1.  d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Qc7 (6... Nbd7 7. Nxc4 Qc7 8. g3 e5 9. dxe5 Nxe5 10. Bf4 Nfd7 11. h4 f6 12. Qc1 Be6 13. Nxe5 Nxe5 14. a5 a6 15. Ra4 O-O-O 16. Bh3 Bxh3 17. Rxh3 Qd7 18. Rh1 Bd6 19. Kf1 h5 20. Kg2 Ng4 21. Rd1 Bxf4 22. Qxf4 Qe6 23. Rad4 Rxd4 24. Rxd4 Qe5 25. b4 Re8 26. Qd2 f5 27. Na4 Nf6 28. Nb6+ Kc7 29. e3 Qe7 30. Qd3 g6 31. Qc4 Rd8 32. Rxd8 Kxd8 33. Qf4 Qe4+ 34. Qxe4 fxe4 35. f3 Ke7 36. fxe4 {1-0 Maghsoodloo,P (2691)-Nakamura,H (2804) Titled Tuesday intern op 01st Jul Late Chess.com INT blitz 2025 (7)}) 7. Nxc4 Na6 8. f3 Rd8 9. e4 Be6 10. Ne5 Nb4 {[%cal Od8d4]} 11. Be3 a5 {[#]} 12. Bc4 $146 (12. Rc1 g6 13. f4 Bg7 14. Be2 O-O 15. O-O Nd7 16. Nf3 Nc5 17. d5 b6 18. dxe6 Rxd1 19. exf7+ Kh8 20. Rcxd1 Nc2 21. Bxc5 bxc5 22. Ng5 Ne3 23. Ne6 Qc8 24. Nxf8 Qxf8 25. e5 {½-½ Kaufman,D (2447)-Atalik,S (2438) Pozarevac Rudar GM 08 2025 (6)}) (12. Qd2) 12... Nd7 {[%cal Bf6d7,Bd7e5,Be5d3][%mdl 32]} 13. Bxe6 {[%csl Ge5][%cal Re6f7]} Nxe5 {[%mdl 64]} 14. O-O $1 {[%cal Oe3f4]} fxe6 15. Bf4 $1 {[%mdl 64]} Nbd3 16. Qxd3 Nxd3 17. Bxc7 Rxd4 18. Rfd1 Rd7 19. Bxa5 g6 20. Ne2 Bg7 21. Bc3 Bxc3 22. Nxc3 Kf7 23. a5 Rhd8 24. a6 bxa6 25. Rxa6 Rd6 26. h4 Rb8 27. Rd2 h6 28. Nd1 g5 29. h5 Ne5 30. Rxd6 exd6 $11 {[%mdl 4096]} 31. Ra7+ Kf8 32. Kf1 (32. Rh7 $2 Nf7 33. Kf2 Kg8 34. Rxf7 Kxf7 $19) 32... d5 33. exd5 cxd5 34. Ra6 Ke7 35. Ra7+ Kf8 36. Ra6 Ke7 37. Ra7+ Kf8 38. Ra6 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2026"]
[Site "Pegeia CYP"]
[Date "2026.04.05"]
[Round "7.3"]
[White "Bluebaum, Matthias"]
[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 5. a3 c6 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Bd3 Bd6 8. e4 dxe4 9. Nxe4 Nxe4 10. Bxe4 O-O 11. O-O e5 12. Bc2 Bc7 (12... f5 13. c5 Be7 14. dxe5 Nxc5 15. Qe2 Qe8 16. Nd4 Kh8 17. Be3 Qg6 18. Rad1 Ne6 19. Nb3 Nc7 20. f4 b6 21. Qf3 c5 22. Nc1 Rb8 23. Ne2 Bb7 24. Qh3 Nd5 25. Bc1 Rbd8 26. Ng3 Bc8 27. Ne2 Nc7 28. Nc3 Rxd1 29. Rxd1 Qc6 30. Be3 Bb7 31. Rd2 {½-½ Grigoriants,S (2553)-Prohaszka,P (2563) HUN-ch 70th Budapest 2022 (1)}) 13. Re1 exd4 $1 14. Qxd4 Ne5 15. Qe4 {[%csl Gc2][%cal Re4h7]} Nxf3+ {[#]} 16. Kh1 $146 (16. Qxf3 Qh4 17. h3 f5 18. b4 Bd7 19. Bb2 Rae8 20. c5 Qf4 21. Bb3+ Kh7 22. Qxf4 Bxf4 23. Red1 Bc8 24. Re1 Bc7 25. Rad1 g5 26. Bf6 Kg6 27. Be7 Rh8 28. h4 Rh7 29. Bd6 Rxe1+ 30. Rxe1 Bxd6 31. cxd6 gxh4 32. f4 Kf6 33. Kh2 Bd7 34. a4 Rg7 35. a5 b6 36. axb6 axb6 37. Ba2 c5 38. bxc5 bxc5 39. Re5 Rg3 40. Re7 Ra3 41. Bg8 Bc6 42. Rc7 Be4 43. Bc4 Ra8 44. Rf7+ Kg6 45. Re7 Rd8 {1-0 Aradhya,G (2202)-Ghosh,D (2469) IND-ch Rapid Mahilong 2025 (5)}) 16... g6 17. Qxf3 {[%cal Oh2h3]} Qh4 {[%csl Gc7,Bc4,Bh2][%cal Rh4h2]} 18. h3 Bd7 $1 19. Be3 {[%cal Bc1e3,Be3a7,Ba7b6,Bb6c7,Bc7e5][%mdl 32]} Rfe8 20. Rad1 Rad8 21. Bxa7 (21. b3 h5 22. Bh6 Rxe1+ 23. Rxe1 Bb6 24. Kg1) 21... Qxc4 22. Bb6 $1 Rxe1+ 23. Rxe1 Qxc2 24. Bxc7 Re8 25. Rxe8+ Bxe8 $11 {[%mdl 4096]} 26. Be5 Qb1+ 27. Kh2 Qf5 28. Qe3 {[%cal Oe5f4]} Qe6 29. Qd4 g5 30. Bh8 {[%csl Gh8][%cal Rd4g7]} Kf8 31. f4 gxf4 32. Qxf4 Ke7 33. Bg7 h5 34. Bc3 Kd7 35. Kh1 b5 36. Ba5 {[%csl Ga5][%cal Rf4c7]} Qd5 37. Qb8 Qd1+ 38. Kh2 Qd6+ 39. Qxd6+ Kxd6 40. Kg3 f6 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2026"]
[Site "Pegeia CYP"]
[Date "2026.04.05"]
[Round "7.4"]
[White "Esipenko, Andrey"]
[Black "Wei Yi"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Crowther,Mark"]
[ECO "C43"]
[EventDate "2026.03.29"]

1.  e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Qe2 d5 5. Nxe5 Be7 6. f3 Nd6 7. Nc3 Nf5 $146 (7... c6 8. Bf4 O-O 9. O-O-O Nd7 10. Nd3 a5 11. h4 b5 12. a3 Nc4 13. Qe1 b4 14. axb4 axb4) 8. Qf2 O-O {[%cal Oc7c5]} 9. Bf4 $1 f6 10. Nd3 Nc6 11. Ne2 Nb4 12. Nxb4 Bxb4+ 13. c3 Bd6 14. Bd2 $2 {[%eval -104,16] [%wdl 0,453,547] Clearly a case of mixing up preparation.} (14. O-O-O $11 {[%eval 13,18] [%wdl 16,979,5]} Re8 15. Bd2 {was almost certainly intended, now he can't even castle Queenside.}) 14... Qe8 $1 $17 15. Kd1 {The best try.} Qa4+ 16. Kc1 (16. b3 {was probably a better try.}) 16... b5 (16... Bd7 $5) 17. Nf4 {[%eval -144,18] [%wdl 0,112,888]} (17. g4 $142 {[%eval -88,18] [%wdl 0,642,358]}) 17... c5 $1 {[%cal Rc5d4][%mdl 512]} 18. Bd3 cxd4 19. Bc2 Qa6 20. cxd4 Bd7 21. Kb1 Rac8 {[%cal Oc8c2] The problem is the Ra1.} 22. Bd3 Rc4 (22... Rfe8) 23. Ne2 {[%cal Oa2a3]} Ne7 $1 {[%cal Of8c8]} 24. g4 (24. a3 Bf5) 24... Rfc8 {[%eval -68,19] [%wdl 0,829,171]} (24... f5 $5) 25. h4 $2 {[%eval -257,15] [%wdl 0,0,1000] Now white collapses.} (25. a3 $1 $15 {[%eval -68,19] [%wdl 0,829,171]}) 25... b4 $1 $40 {[%cal Od7b5][%mdl 128]} 26. b3 {[%eval -356,14] [%wdl 0,0,1000]} (26. Bf4 {[%eval -248,17] [%wdl 0,1,999]} Bxf4 27. Nxf4) 26... Bb5 $1 27. bxc4 {[%eval -731,19] [%wdl 0,0,1000]} (27. Nf4 {[%eval -333,15] [%wdl 0,0,1000]} Bxf4 28. bxc4 dxc4 29. Be4) 27... Bxc4 28. Bc2 Bd3 29. Bc3 bxc3 30. Nc1 Rb8+ 0-1

[Event "FIDE Women Candidates"]
[Site "Pegeia CYP"]
[Date "2026.04.05"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Muzychuk, Anna"]
[Black "Assaubayeva, Bibisara"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "Crowther,Mark"]
[ECO "B30"]
[EventDate "2026.03.29"]

1.  e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. d3 Bg4 {[%cal Bc8g4,Bg4h5,Bh5g6][%mdl 32]} (5... Qc7 6. O-O e5 7. Nbd2 Bg4 8. h3 Bh5 9. a4 Nd7 10. Nc4 f6 11. Bd2 a5 12. g4 Bf7 13. b3 b6 14. Nh4 O-O-O 15. Kg2 g6 16. Rb1 Be7 17. Nf3 Nf8 18. Be3 Ne6 19. Qd2 g5 20. Rh1 h5 21. Nh2 Rh7 22. f3 Rdh8 23. gxh5 Rxh5 24. Ng4 Nf4+ 25. Bxf4 gxf4 26. Rbg1 Be6 27. Qf2 Kb7 28. Rh2 Qd7 29. Qe2 Bd8 30. Rgh1 b5 31. Nd2 Qd4 32. Qf2 Qb4 33. Rc1 Qc3 34. Nf1 Bb6 35. axb5 {0-1 Erigaisi,A (2775)-Carlsen,M (2840) 1st Thursday Jan 29th Chess.com INT blitz 2026 (6)}) 6. h3 Bh5 {[%cal Oc5c4]} 7. g4 Bg6 {[%cal Oc5c4]} 8. Bf4 c4 9. Nc3 cxd3 {[#]} 10. Qxd3 $146 (10. cxd3 e6 11. Ne5 Nd7 12. Nxg6 hxg6 13. d4 Be7 14. Qd2 Qa5 15. O-O-O Rd8 16. Kb1 e5 17. dxe5 Nxe5 18. Qc2 Rxd1+ 19. Rxd1 Rxh3 20. Nd5 cxd5 21. Bxe5 Qc5 22. Qa4+ b5 23. Qa6 f6 24. Rc1 Qb6 25. Qc8+ Kf7 26. Bg3 Qe6 27. Qxe6+ Kxe6 28. Rc6+ Kd7 29. exd5 Bd8 30. Rc5 a6 31. Rc6 a5 32. Ra6 Rh1+ 33. Kc2 Re1 34. Ra7+ Kc8 35. Rxg7 Re2+ 36. Kc3 f5 37. Rxg6 fxg4 38. Rc6+ Kb7 39. Rd6 Bb6 {½-½ Wei,Y (2755)-Shevchenko,K (2677) Warsaw Superbet Blitz 2024 (16)}) 10... Qxd3 11. cxd3 Nd7 12. Nh4 e5 13. Be3 Be7 14. Nf5 Bxf5 15. exf5 O-O-O 16. Ne4 Kb8 17. Ke2 Nf6 18. Nxf6 Bxf6 19. Rac1 (19. g5 $5 Be7 $8 20. h4 $14) 19... Rd5 20. b3 Rhd8 21. Rhd1 (21. g5 $5 Be7 $8 22. Rc4 $14) 21... h6 22. Rc4 R8d7 23. Rd2 Rd8 24. Rd1 R8d7 25. Rd2 Rd8 26. Rd1 R8d7 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Women Candidates"]
[Site "Pegeia CYP"]
[Date "2026.04.05"]
[Round "7.2"]
[White "Divya, Deshmukh"]
[Black "Lagno, Kateryna"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A13"]
[Annotator "Crowther,Mark"]
[EventDate "2026.03.29"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3 Nf6 4. b3 c5 5. Bb2 Nc6 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bb5 Bd6 8. O-O O-O 9. Nc3 Bg4 10. Ne2 Ne4 $146 {[%cal Od5d4]} (10... Rc8 11. Rc1 Qe7 12. Ng3 Ne4 13. Be2 Rfe8 14. d3 Nf6 15. Nh4 Bxe2 16. Qxe2 Qe6) 11. Ne1 Bd7 12. d3 Nf6 13. d4 cxd4 14. Nxd4 {[%cal Be2d4,Bd4b5,Bb5c3][%mdl 32]} Rc8 15. Bd3 Re8 16. Nef3 Ne4 17. Rc1 Qe7 18. Nb5 Bb8 19. Nc3 Bg4 20. Nxd5 Qd6 21. Nf4 (21. Bxe4 Rxe4 22. Nf4 Qxd1 23. Rfxd1 Bxf4 24. exf4 Bxf3 25. gxf3 Re2 26. Ba1) 21... Qh6 {[%eval 185,16] [%wdl 977,23,0]} (21... Ng5 $1 $11 {[%eval 0,22] [%wdl 12,976,12]} 22. Be2 Qxd1 23. Bxd1 Bxf3 24. Bxf3 Nxf3+ 25. gxf3 Bxf4 26. exf4 Re2) 22. Bxe4 $1 $18 Rxe4 23. h3 Bxf4 24. hxg4 Bd6 25. Qd5 Rce8 {[%eval 263,15] [%wdl 1000,0,0]} (25... Rxg4 {[%eval 178,17] [%wdl 988,12,0]} 26. Qf5 Qh3 27. Qxc8+ Bf8 28. Qxg4 (28. Qxb7 Rxg2#) 28... Qxg4) 26. Rfd1 Bc7 27. Qh5 Qg6 28. Rd7 R4e7 29. Qxg6 hxg6 30. Rcd1 Rxd7 31. Rxd7 Re7 32. Rd1 Re4 33. g5 Bd8 34. Rd5 Re8 35. Rd7 Re7 36. Rd1 {[%cal Of3e5]} Rc7 37. Kf1 Be7 38. Rd2 Bb4 39. Rc2 Be7 40. Rd2 Bb4 41. Rc2 Be7 42. a3 Rd7 43. b4 a6 44. Ke2 Kf8 45. Rc4 Rc7 46. Be5 Rd7 47. Bb2 Rc7 48. e4 Rc8 49. Bc1 Ke8 {[%eval 225,18] [%wdl 1000,0,0]} (49... b5 $142 {[%eval 169,21] [%wdl 989,11,0]} 50. Rc2 f5 51. gxf6 gxf6) 50. Rc2 Kd7 51. Bb2 f6 52. g4 Ke6 53. Ke3 Rh8 54. Nd4+ {[%eval 66,21] [%wdl 97,903,0]} (54. Rc1 $16 {[%eval 148,22] [%wdl 957,43,0]}) 54... Kd7 {[%eval 175,20] [%wdl 992,8,0]} (54... Nxd4 $14 {[%eval 66,21] [%wdl 97,903,0]} 55. Bxd4 Bd6) 55. f3 $2 {[%eval 23,23] [%wdl 7,993,0]} (55. Nxc6 $18 {[%eval 175,20] [%wdl 992,8,0]} bxc6 56. gxf6 (56. f3 Rh3 $16) 56... Rh3+ 57. f3 gxf6 58. e5 fxe5 59. Bxe5) 55... Ne5 $11 56. gxf6 gxf6 57. Ne2 Rh3 {[%csl Bf3,Bg4]} 58. Bxe5 fxe5 $14 {[%mdl 4096]} 59. Kf2 Rh1 60. Rc3 Rh2+ 61. Ke1 Bg5 62. Rd3+ Ke6 63. Nc3 Rb2 $2 {[%eval 204,13] [%wdl 999,1,0]} (63... Rh1+ $11 {[%eval 14,25] [%wdl 4,995,1]} 64. Kf2 Rh2+ 65. Ke1 Rc2) 64. Na4 $1 $18 Rb1+ 65. Ke2 Be7 66. Rc3 {[%eval 37,25] [%wdl 17,983,0]} (66. Kd2 $16 {[%eval 151,19] [%wdl 965,35,0]}) 66... Ra1 67. Nb6 Ra2+ 68. Kd1 Bg5 69. Na4 Be7 70. Kc1 {[%eval -8,33] [%wdl 1,996,3]} (70. Nb6 $16 {[%eval 80,24] [%wdl 217,783,0]}) 70... Rf2 {[%eval 88,25] [%wdl 315,685,0]} (70... Bxb4 $11 {[%eval -8,33] [%wdl 1,996,3]} 71. Rb3 Bd6 (71... Bxa3+ $2 72. Kb1 $18 {[%mdl 64]})) 71. Kb1 Bd6 72. Nb6 Be7 73. Nc4 Bd8 74. Rd3 Bc7 75. a4 g5 76. b5 axb5 77. axb5 b6 $2 {[%eval 261,21] [%wdl 1000,0,0]} (77... Rf1+ $16 {[%eval 106,23] [%wdl 597,403,0]} 78. Kc2 Rf2+ 79. Rd2 Rxd2+ 80. Kxd2 Bd6) 78. Kc1 $2 {[%eval 40,25] [%wdl 21,979,0]} (78. Ra3 $18 {[%eval 261,21] [%wdl 1000,0,0]}) 78... Rf1+ $1 $14 79. Kc2 Rf2+ $1 80. Kd1 Rf1+ $1 81. Kd2 Rb1 82. Na3 Ra1 83. Nc4 Rb1 84. Rd5 Rb3 85. Ke2 Rb4 86. Kd3 Rb3+ 87. Ke2 Rb4 88. Ne3 Bd6 89. Nf5 Bc5 90. Ng7+ Kf7 91. Rd7+ Kg6 92. Ne6 Rxb5 93. Nxc5 bxc5 $11 94. Kd3 Rb4 95. Kc3 Kf6 96. Rd6+ Kf7 97. Rd5 {[%csl Bc5,Be5]} Kf6 98. Rxc5 Ra4 99. Rc6+ Kf7 100. Rb6 Ra3+ 101. Rb3 Ra4 102. Rb7+ Kf6 103. Rb6+ Kf7 104. Rb7+ Kf6 105. Rb8 Kf7 106. Rb6 Ra3+ 107. Rb3 Ra4 108. Kb2 Kf6 109. Rb6+ Kf7 $1 110. Rd6 Rc4 111. Rd8 Rc6 112. Kb3 Rc1 113. Rd3 Ke6 114. Rd8 Kf7 115. Rd7+ Kf6 116. Rd8 Kf7 117. Rd3 Kf6 118. Kb4 Ke6 119. Ra3 Rb1+ 120. Kc5 Rc1+ 121. Kb6 Kd6 122. Kb7 Kd7 123. Rb3 Rc2 124. Rb5 Rc3 125. Rxe5 Rb3+ 126. Ka6 Rxf3 127. Rxg5 Rf4 128. e5 Ke6 129. Kb7 Re4 130. Kc7 Rxe5 131. Rg8 Kf7 132. Kd6 Ra5 133. Rb8 Ra4 134. g5 {[%cal Bg4g5,Bg5g6][%mdl 32]} Ra5 135. g6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Women Candidates"]
[Site "Pegeia CYP"]
[Date "2026.04.05"]
[Round "7.3"]
[White "Goryachkina, Aleksandra"]
[Black "Zhu, Jiner"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "Crowther,Mark"]
[ECO "C80"]
[EventDate "2026.03.29"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 Be7 7. Re1 {[%cal Bf1e1,Be1e4,Be4e5][%mdl 32]} b5 8. Rxe4 (8. dxe5 $6 Nxf2 9. Kxf2 bxa4 $17) 8... d5 9. Nxe5 Nxe5 10. Rxe5 bxa4 11. b3 {[%csl Oa4,Oa6]} O-O 12. Ba3 Bxa3 13. Nxa3 Re8 14. Rxe8+ Qxe8 15. Nb1 Qc6 16. Qd2 axb3 17. cxb3 Bd7 18. Nc3 Re8 19. h3 h6 20. Re1 Rxe1+ 21. Qxe1 $11 {[%mdl 4096]} Qd6 22. Qe3 a5 $146 (22... Kf8 23. f4 f6 24. Qf3 Qa3 25. Qe3 Qd6 26. Qf3 Qa3 27. Qe3 Bc6 28. Qd2 Kf7) 23. h4 Kh8 24. Ne2 Qa3 25. Qd2 c5 26. dxc5 Qxc5 27. Nd4 Kg8 28. Kh2 Qd6+ 29. g3 Qc5 30. Kg2 Kh8 31. f3 Kg8 32. g4 Qc7 33. Qe3 Qd6 34. g5 hxg5 35. hxg5 g6 36. Ne2 Bb5 37. Nc3 Bc6 38. Qb6 {[%cal Oc3b5]} Qd7 39. Ne2 {[%cal Oe2d4]} Qe7 40. Kf2 Be8 41. Qe3 {[%eval 0,26] [%wdl 2,996,2]} (41. Qxa5 $14 {[%eval 58,17] [%wdl 61,939,0]} Qxg5 42. Qc5) 41... Kf8 42. Nf4 (42. Qxe7+ Kxe7 43. a3 f6 44. gxf6+ Kxf6 45. f4) 42... Bc6 43. Nd3 (43. Qxe7+ Kxe7 44. Ne2 f6 45. gxf6+ Kxf6 46. f4) 43... d4 44. Qf4 {[%cal Od3e5]} (44. Qe5 Qxe5 45. Nxe5 Be8 46. a4) 44... Bb5 45. Ne5 (45. Qb8+ Be8 46. Qe5 Qxe5 47. Nxe5 Ke7 48. f4) 45... Kg8 46. Qf6 Qc7 47. Ng4 d3 48. Qd4 Kf8 49. a4 Bd7 50. Qh8+ Ke7 51. Qf6+ Kf8 52. Qh8+ Ke7 53. Qe5+ Kd8 54. Qxc7+ Kxc7 55. Ne5 {[%csl Bd3,Bf7][%cal Oe5d7]} Be6 56. Nc4 Kc6 $1 57. Nxa5+ (57. Ke3 $5 Kc5 $8 (57... Bxc4 $2 58. bxc4 Kd6 59. Kxd3 $18) 58. Kxd3 $11 (58. Nxa5 Kb4 $11)) 57... Kc5 $1 58. Nc4 Kb4 59. Nd2 Bxb3 60. a5 {[%cal Ba4a5,Ba5a6,Ba6a7][%mdl 32]} Bd5 61. a6 Kc3 62. Ke3 Ba8 63. a7 Kc2 64. Ne4 Bc6 65. f4 Ba8 66. Nd2 Bc6 67. Nc4 Ba8 68. Nd2 Bc6 69. Nf1 Ba8 70. Nd2 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Women Candidates"]
[Site "Pegeia CYP"]
[Date "2026.04.05"]
[Round "7.4"]
[White "Vaishali, Rameshbabu"]
[Black "Tan, Zhongyi"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Crowther,Mark"]
[ECO "B00"]
[EventDate "2026.03.29"]

1.  e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Bd3 e5 4. c3 Nbd7 5. Bc2 b6 $146 (5... Be7 6. f4 O-O 7. Nf3 Re8 8. fxe5 dxe5 9. d5 Bc5 10. b4 Bb6 11. c4 c5) 6. Ne2 Bb7 7. Nd2 g6 8. O-O Bg7 9. f4 {[%eval -44,19] [%wdl 4,890,106] Already black is a bit better.} (9. Re1 $14 {[%eval 31,19] [%wdl 66,928,6]}) 9... O-O $15 10. Ng3 Ba6 {[%eval 21,18] [%wdl 46,944,10] a bit inaccurate.} (10... Re8 $15 {[%eval -46,16] [%wdl 4,886,110]}) 11. Rf3 (11. fxe5 dxe5 12. Re1) 11... exd4 12. cxd4 c5 13. e5 Ne8 14. Be4 $1 Rc8 15. Ra3 Nb8 16. Rxa6 {[%mdl 64]} Nxa6 17. Bb7 {[%csl Ba6,Bc8]} Rb8 {[%eval -10,18] [%wdl 4,985,11]} (17... Nb8 $15 {[%eval -66,22] [%wdl 0,843,157]} 18. Bxc8 Qxc8) 18. Bxa6 $11 b5 {There was nothing wrong with white's combination but she now goes wrong.} 19. a4 Qa5 $36 {[%mdl 2048]} 20. Bxb5 (20. axb5 $2 Qxa1 21. Nge4 cxd4 22. exd6 Rd8 $19) (20. dxc5 $6 dxe5 21. Bxb5 Rxb5 $17 (21... exf4 $2 22. Nb3 $18)) 20... Rxb5 {[%mdl 64]} 21. Nb3 $2 {[%eval -122,19] [%wdl 0,226,774] A serious error.} (21. Nc4 $15 {[%eval -50,19] [%wdl 0,943,57]} Qa6 22. b3) 21... Rxb3 $1 $17 {[%mdl 576]} 22. Qxb3 cxd4 {[%csl Od4][%cal Bc5d4,Bd4d3,Bd3e2][%mdl 32]} 23. exd6 $2 {[%eval -275,17] [%wdl 0,0,1000]} (23. Qb5 $17 {[%eval -123,20] [%wdl 0,193,807]} Qe1+ 24. Qf1 Qxf1+ 25. Kxf1) 23... Qe1+ 24. Nf1 {White is busted.} Nxd6 25. Qg3 Qe2 26. Qf2 d3 27. Be3 Ne4 $2 {[%eval -27,21] [%wdl 0,990,10] a real pity for Tan.} (27... Re8 $19 {[%eval -302,19] [%wdl 0,0,1000]} 28. a5 Bxb2) (27... Bxb2 {also wins.}) (27... Qc2 {as well}) (27... Nc4 {also huge advantage.}) 28. Qxe2 $11 dxe2 29. Ng3 $1 Re8 30. Nxe4 Rxe4 $15 {[%mdl 4096]} 31. Kf2 Bxb2 32. Re1 Rxa4 33. Rxe2 Bf6 34. Rc2 h5 35. Kf3 a5 36. Rc6 Kg7 37. Ra6 {White was clearly aware of what was possible here.} Ra1 $4 {[%eval 418,17] [%wdl 1000,0,0][%mdl 8192] A really careless error, not just costing a chance to play for a win, but also costing the game.} (37... Ra3 $15 {[%eval -38,22] [%wdl 0,982,18]} 38. Ke4 Bb2) 38. Rxf6 $1 $18 {[%mdl 64] Ouch.} Rf1+ (38... Ra3 39. Ra6) 39. Ke2 Kxf6 40. Kxf1 Kf5 41. Ke2 Ke4 42. g3 a4 43. Bc5 h4 44. Be7 hxg3 45. hxg3 Kd4 46. Kf3 {[%cal Of4f5]} f5 47. Bf8 Kd3 48. Kg2 Ke3 49. Kh3 Kf2 50. Kh4 {[%eval 32720,30] [%wdl 1000,0,0]} (50. Bc5+ $18 {[%eval 8115,24] [%wdl 1000,0,0]} Ke2 51. Kh4) 50... Kf3 51. Bd6 {[%eval 4929,19] [%wdl 1000,0,0]} (51. Bc5 $142 {[%eval 32722,25] [%wdl 1000,0,0]} Kg2 52. g4 fxg4 53. Kxg4 Kh2 54. Bd6 Kg2 55. Kg5 a3 56. Bxa3) 1-0

