[Event "FIDE Candidates 2026"]
[Site "Pegeia CYP"]
[Date "2026.04.07"]
[Round "8.1"]
[White "Esipenko, Andrey"]
[Black "Sindarov, Javokhir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "Mark Crowther"]
[ECO "A13"]
[EventDate "2026.03.29"]

1. c4 e6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nf3 Bd6 {This modern approach is quite fashionable, even running to Chessable courses.} 5. O-O O-O 6. d4 Nc6 7. e3 ({Relevant:} 7. a3 a5 8. Qc2 a4 9. c5 Be7 10. Nc3 Bd7 11. Bf4 Nh5 12. Bd2 f5 13. Nxa4 g5 14. e3 g4 15. Ne1 Nxd4 16. exd4 Bxa4 17. b3 Bb5 18. Nd3 Nf6 19. a4 Bxd3 20. Qxd3 Qd7 21. a5 Ne4 22. b4 c6 23. Bf4 Bf6 24. Rab1 h5 25. Rfd1 h4 26. Qe3 Kf7 27. Bxe4 dxe4 28. Bd6 Rh8 29. Rb2 Kg6 30. Rdb1 Qg7 31. Rd1 Rh5 32. Qb3 hxg3 33. Bxg3 Qd7 34. Ra2 Qd5 35. Qxd5 exd5 36. b5 cxb5 {0-1 Lazavik,D (2605)-Carlsen,M (2840) London SpeedChess Final blitz 2026 (1.10)}) 7... Re8 8. Nbd2 {[#]} a5 $146 {[%cal Ba7a5,Ba5a4][%mdl 32]} ({Predecessor:} 8... b6 9. b3 Qe7 10. a3 a5 11. Bb2 Bb7 12. Qc2 h6 13. Rfc1 Qd8 14. Ne5 Ne7 15. Nd3 Nf5 16. c5 Be7 17. Ne5 Rb8 18. b4 bxc5 19. dxc5 axb4 20. axb4 Ba8 21. Ra4 Nd7 22. Nxd7 Qxd7 23. c6 Qd8 24. Qb3 Bf6 25. Bxf6 Qxf6 26. b5 Nd6 27. Bf1 Qd8 28. Qb4 Nc8 29. Qc5 Nb6 30. Ra6 g6 31. Rca1 Kg7 32. Ra7 e5 33. e4 dxe4 34. Nxe4 Re6 35. h4 Re8 36. R1a6 g5 37. hxg5 hxg5 38. Qe3 {1-0 Fischer,S (1927)-Frenzel,L (1609) GER OS-518 email GER email 2024}) 9. b3 a4 10. Bb2 Bb4 11. a3 Bxd2 12. Nxd2 {[%cal Bf3d2,Bd2c4,Bc4a5][%mdl 32]} axb3 13. Qxb3 Na5 14. Qc2 Bd7 15. Rfc1 (15. Rfe1) 15... dxc4 16. Nxc4 Bc6 17. Nxa5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 {[#] And now Nc4 would win.} Qd5+ 19. Kg1 Rxa5 20. Qxc7 h5 21. Qe5 Qd8 22. Qc7 {The position is equal.} Qd5 23. Qe5 Qd8 24. Qc7 Qd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2026"]
[Site "Pegeia CYP"]
[Date "2026.04.07"]
[Round "8.2"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Mark Crowther"]
[ECO "A33"]
[EventDate "2026.03.29"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Bf4 d5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Nxc6 bxc6 9. Bd2 Bb4 10. Qa4 a5 $146 ({Predecessor:} 10... Rb8 11. e4 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Ba5 13. Rd1 O-O 14. Be2 Qc7 15. O-O Bb7 16. g3 Rbd8 17. Qc4 Bb6 {½-½ Artemiev,V (2700)-Grischuk,A (2742) RUS-chT 29th Sochi 2022 (7.4)}) 11. e4 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Be7 13. Be2 {[%cal Od2f4]} O-O 14. Bf4 {[%cal Oe1g1]} Ba6 15. Bxa6 Rxa6 16. Rd1 Qb6 17. O-O Qb5 18. Qc2 Bc5 19. c4 Qb7 20. Be5 Qe7 21. Qd3 {Black has equality but his position is harder to play. What Nakamura does from now on is extremely impressive.} f6 $6 {If we're looking for where black went wrong then maybe this isn't wise.} (21... h6 22. Bd6 Bxd6 23. Qxd6 Qxd6 24. Rxd6 Rb8 $11) 22. Bd6 Bxd6 23. Qxd6 Qxd6 24. Rxd6 $11 {[%mdl 4096] The engine gives equality, but this is not easy for Caruana at all.} Rb8 25. Rxe6 Rb2 26. Re7 Rab6 27. Ra7 $1 {An extremely good practical chance.} (27. h4 Rb7 $11) 27... Rxa2 28. h3 h5 $2 {[%eval 298,16] [%wdl 1000,0,0]} (28... Rab2 $16 {[%eval 76,18] [%wdl 170,830,0] At some point Caruana had to give up material to cover his second rank, after which he would probably have held.}) 29. Rd1 $18 {and suddenly white is winning. All very instructive.} Rbb2 30. Rd8+ $1 Kh7 31. Rdd7 Rxf2 32. Rxg7+ Kh8 {[#]} 33. Rh7+ $1 Kg8 34. Rag7+ ({Inferior is} 34. Rxh5 Rxg2+ 35. Kh1 Rgd2) 34... Kf8 {[#]} 35. Rf7+ $1 Kg8 36. Rhg7+ Kh8 37. Rg6 {[%cal Oe4e5] Nakamura has conjured a win out of almost nowhere.} Rf4 {[%cal Oh5h4]} 38. Rfxf6 Rxf6 39. Rxf6 Kg7 40. Rxc6 Rc2 41. Rc5 Kg6 {White is clearly winning.} 42. Rxa5 Rxc4 43. Re5 h4 44. Kf2 Rc2+ 45. Kf3 Rc3+ 46. Kg4 Rg3+ 47. Kxh4 Rxg2 {This is a completely hopeless endgame for black.} 48. Rf5 Rg1 49. Rf4 Ra1 50. Kg3 Rg1+ 51. Kf3 Rf1+ 52. Ke3 Re1+ 53. Kd4 Ra1 54. Rf5 Rh1 55. Rf3 Ra1 56. h4 Ra4+ 57. Ke5 Ra5+ 58. Kf4 Rh5 59. Kg4 Re5 60. Rf4 Kh6 61. Kf3 Kg6 62. Ke3 Ra5 63. Rg4+ Kf6 {[#]} 64. Rg5 $1 Ra1 (64... Ra3+ 65. Kf4) 65. Rf5+ Kg6 66. h5+ Kh6 67. e5 1-0

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2026"]
[Site "Pegeia CYP"]
[Date "2026.04.07"]
[Round "8.3"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Praggnanandhaa, R.."]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Mark Crowther"]
[ECO "D37"]
[EventDate "2026.03.29"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 {[%cal Be2e4,Be4e5][%mdl 32]} b5 6. e5 Nd5 {[#]} 7. Nxb5 Nb6 8. Be2 {White is slightly better.} Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. a4 Ba6 11. Na3 $146 ({Predecessor:} 11. b3 cxb3 12. Qxb3 c6 13. Nc3 Bxe2 14. Nxe2 N8d7 15. Nf4 Nd5 16. Nxd5 cxd5 17. a5 {1-0 Tilicheev,V (2540)-Lagunow,R (2428) Pfalz op 10th Neustadt an der Weinstrasse 2019 (5)}) 11... c5 12. a5 Nd5 13. Bxc4 Qxa5 $6 {This leaves black on the back foot.} (13... Bxc4 14. Nxc4 Nc6 15. dxc5 Bxc5 {was probably a better way of going about things.}) 14. Nc2 Qb6 15. Bxd5 exd5 16. Re1 (16. dxc5 {seems wilder.} Bxc5 17. b4 Be7 18. Re1) 16... Bb7 {[%eval 107,19] [%wdl 589,411,0]} ({Better is} 16... Bc8 $14 {[%eval 51,21] [%wdl 80,919,1]}) 17. Bg5 Bxg5 18. Nxg5 {And now e6 would win.} h6 19. dxc5 {[%csl Oc5] White has a strong passed pawn} Qxc5 20. Nf3 Nc6 {[%cal Od5d4]} 21. Ncd4 Nxd4 22. Nxd4 (22. Qxd4 Rfc8 $11) 22... Bc8 23. Qd2 {White is much more active. The black rooks are passive.} Rb8 24. Rec1 (24. b3 $5) 24... Qb6 25. b3 Bd7 26. h3 Rfc8 27. Rd1 Rc5 28. Kh2 a5 29. f4 {[%cal Bf2f4,Bf4e5,Be5e6,Be6e7][%mdl 32]} f6 $2 {In real terms this is what puts black in trouble.} (29... Rbc8 $11) 30. Re1 Re8 (30... Qb4 31. Qf2 fxe5 32. Rxe5 Rf8) 31. Re2 {[%cal Oe5e6]} fxe5 32. fxe5 Qc7 33. Rae1 a4 34. bxa4 Bxa4 {[%cal Bd7a4,Ba4c2,Bc2e4][%mdl 32]} 35. Kh1 {The engine's don't think white is much better, if at all. But black getting the Ba5 into the game or not will decide this game.} Qf7 $2 {[%eval 162,21] [%wdl 981,19,0] This move loses the game for Black.} (35... Bb5 $11 {[%eval 28,20] [%wdl 10,990,0] and Black stays safe.} 36. Re3 Ba4) 36. e6 $18 Qg6 {[%eval 220,18] [%wdl 999,1,0]} (36... Qc7 $16 {[%eval 151,19] [%wdl 961,39,0]} 37. Re5 Bc2) 37. Rf2 Rc4 38. Rf4 h5 $2 {[%eval 374,17] [%wdl 1000,0,0]} (38... Kh7 {[%eval 195,19] [%wdl 998,2,0] is a better defense.} 39. e7 Rc7) 39. Qf2 Bc2 {Too late.} 40. e7 {White is clearly winning.} Be4 41. Rf8+ Kh7 42. Rxe8 Qxe8 {[#]} 43. Rxe4 $1 {[%mdl 64] Not a hard calculation for Giri.} dxe4 44. Qf5+ 1-0

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2026"]
[Site "Pegeia CYP"]
[Date "2026.04.07"]
[Round "8.4"]
[White "Wei Yi"]
[Black "Bluebaum, Matthias"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "Mark Crowther"]
[ECO "C28"]
[EventDate "2026.03.29"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Nc6 4. d3 Bb4 5. Nf3 d5 6. exd5 Nxd5 7. O-O Bxc3 8. bxc3 Bg4 9. Re1 O-O 10. Bd2 Bh5 $146 {C28: Vienna Game: 2...Nf6 3 Bc4 Nc6.} ({Predecessor:} 10... Qd6 11. Rb1 Bh5 12. h3 Rad8 13. g4 Bg6 14. Nh4 Nb6 15. Bb3 Na5 16. Nxg6 hxg6 17. Qf3 c6 18. c4 Nxb3 19. Rxb3 {1-0 Aronian,L (2745)-Giri,A (2768) Warsaw Superbet Rapid 2023 (3)}) 11. a4 Kh8 12. a5 Rb8 13. Bb5 {[#]} Nde7 14. Ra4 {and g4 would now be decisive} Qd5 15. Bc4 Qd6 16. Bc1 f6 {[%eval 66,17] [%wdl 167,833,0]} (16... f5 $11 {[%eval 0,17] [%wdl 9,982,9]} 17. Qe2 b5 18. axb6 cxb6) 17. Ba3 $14 Qd7 {[#]} 18. Bb5 {[%eval 6,20] [%wdl 12,982,6] A strong pair of Bishops.} (18. Bb3 $1 $16 {[%eval 78,19] [%wdl 263,737,0]}) 18... Rfd8 $11 19. Rh4 Bf7 {[%eval 59,17] [%wdl 125,874,1]} ({Better is} 19... Qf5 $11 {[%eval -30,19] [%wdl 2,963,35]}) 20. Bxe7 $1 $14 Qxe7 21. d4 {Repels Qc5} Bg6 22. a6 Qd6 23. Bd3 Bxd3 24. Qxd3 h6 25. axb7 {White is more active.} Rxb7 26. g4 Kg8 27. Rh5 Qd7 28. h3 (28. dxe5 $2 Qxg4+ 29. Kf1 Rxd3 $19) 28... Qf7 {Dodges Qg6} 29. Qe4 Qd5 30. Qe2 {[%cal Rd4e5]} Re8 31. c4 Qf7 32. Qe4 {Counterplay Black} (32. dxe5 {simplifies} Nxe5 33. Nxe5 Rxe5 34. Rxe5 fxe5 35. Rd1) 32... Qxc4 {The position is equal.} 33. Rxh6 gxh6 34. Qg6+ Kf8 35. Qxf6+ (35. Qxh6+ $6 Ke7 36. dxe5 Kd8 (36... Qxc2 $2 37. exf6+ Kd7 38. Qg7+ {[%mdl 64] Deflection} Kd6 39. f7 $18) 37. Rd1+ Kc8 38. exf6 Rb6 $17 (38... Qxc2 39. Rd2 $17)) 35... Kg8 36. Qg6+ (36. Qxh6 Re7 37. Qg6+ (37. dxe5 $2 Qxc2 38. Kg2 Rb2 $19) 37... Kf8 $17) 36... Kf8 37. Qf6+ (37. dxe5 $2 {too greedy.} Qe6 38. Qh7 Rd8 $17) 37... Kg8 38. Qg6+ Kf8 39. Qxh6+ ({Of course not} 39. dxe5 $6 Re6 40. Qf5+ Ke8 $19) 39... Kg8 40. Qg6+ Kf8 41. Qf6+ Kg8 42. Ng5 Nxd4 $1 {[%cal Ob7b6] It was clear that Bluebaum had most of the rest of the game worked out.} 43. Qg6+ Kf8 {[%cal Ob7b6]} 44. Qf6+ Kg8 {[%cal Ob7b6]} 45. Qg6+ Kf8 {[%cal Ob7b6,Bg8f8,Bf8e7,Be7d8,Bd8d7][%mdl 32]} 46. Qh6+ Ke7 {[%cal Oe7d7]} 47. Rxe5+ Kd8 48. Qf6+ {It turns out that this is equal and white has nothing better than to repeat.} Kd7 49. Qg7+ Kd8 50. Qf6+ Kd7 51. Qg7+ Kd8 52. Qf6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Women Candidates"]
[Site "Pegeia CYP"]
[Date "2026.04.07"]
[Round "8.1"]
[White "Muzychuk, Anna"]
[Black "Divya, Deshmukh"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Mark Crowther"]
[ECO "B36"]
[EventDate "2026.03.29"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Nc6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nf6 6. Nc3 d6 7. Be2 Nxd4 8. Qxd4 Bg7 9. Be3 O-O 10. Qd3 Ng4 {B36: Sicilian: Maroczy Bind: Gurgenidze System.} 11. Bxg4 Bxg4 12. O-O Be6 {White is slightly better.} 13. Bd4 Bxd4 14. Qxd4 Qc7 15. b3 Qc5 16. Qd3 Rfc8 17. Rfe1 a6 $146 {[%cal Ob7b5]} ({Predecessor:} 17... Rab8 18. h3 a6 19. a4 Qb4 20. Rab1 Rc7 21. f4 Qc5+ 22. Kh1 f6 {1-0 Tokhirjonova,G (2350)-Cervantes Landeiro,T (2303) USA-ch (Women) Saint Louis 2023 (5)}) 18. a4 Rc7 19. Re3 Rac8 20. Rae1 Qe5 21. h3 {[%cal Bh2h3,Bh3h4,Bh4h5][%mdl 32]} b6 22. Nd5 Bxd5 23. exd5 (23. cxd5 b5 24. g3 Rc3 $15) 23... Qf6 24. Rf3 Qg7 25. h4 f6 {[%eval 214,20] [%wdl 999,1,0]} (25... b5 $16 {[%eval 109,20] [%wdl 638,362,0]}) 26. Qd4 Rb8 27. Rfe3 {[%csl Oe7] White attacks a weakness} Rbb7 28. Re6 Qh6 29. g3 Qf8 30. h5 g5 31. Kg2 {Black is weak on the light squares} Qa8 {[%eval 295,18] [%wdl 1000,0,0]} (31... h6 {[%eval 168,22] [%wdl 986,14,0]} 32. R1e3 Qf7) 32. Ra1 {[%eval 145,21] [%wdl 942,58,0]} (32. f4 $18 {[%eval 295,18] [%wdl 1000,0,0] is more deadly. fxg5 is the strong threat.} gxf4 33. Qxf4) 32... Qc8 {[%eval 223,20] [%wdl 1000,0,0]} (32... Qf8 $16 {[%eval 145,21] [%wdl 942,58,0]} 33. Qd3 b5) 33. Rae1 Qa8 {[%eval 296,16] [%wdl 1000,0,0]} (33... Qf8 $16 {[%eval 152,21] [%wdl 962,38,0]} 34. Qd3 Qc8) 34. f4 $18 gxf4 35. Qxf4 b5 36. h6 {White threatens Qg4+ and mate.} Qf8 37. cxb5 {[%eval 126,19] [%wdl 837,163,0]} (37. Qg4+ $1 $18 {[%eval 280,20] [%wdl 1000,0,0] is the precise move to win.} Kh8 38. axb5 axb5 39. Qf4) 37... axb5 $16 38. a5 Rc5 $2 {[%eval 338,15] [%wdl 1000,0,0][%mdl 8192]} (38... Qf7 $16 {[%eval 83,20] [%wdl 255,745,0]}) 39. Qg4+ $18 Kh8 40. b4 {[%eval 173,21] [%wdl 990,10,0]} (40. Qg7+ $142 {[%eval 300,17] [%wdl 1000,0,0] Perhaps the key moment in the entire game. Muzychuk tries to play it safe, this just wins.} Qxg7 41. hxg7+ Kg8 42. Rxe7) (40. a6 {was also winning and would have been a safe compromise to get to move 40.}) 40... Rc4 {[%eval 261,22] [%wdl 1000,0,0] White has space advantage and is better} (40... Rc2+ {[%eval 173,21] [%wdl 990,10,0]} 41. R6e2 Rcc7) 41. R6e4 {[%eval 152,23] [%wdl 965,35,0]} (41. Qh5 $18 {[%eval 261,22] [%wdl 1000,0,0]}) 41... Rxe4 42. Rxe4 $16 {[%mdl 4096] Endgame KQR-KQR} (42. Qxe4 Qxh6 43. Re2 Qh5 $11) 42... Rc7 {[#]} 43. Qe2 $2 {[%eval 38,24] [%wdl 17,983,0] White's safety first attitude has cost her a winning advantage in only 3 moves.} ({White should try} 43. Qh5 $1 $16 {[%eval 116,17] [%wdl 745,255,0]}) 43... Qxh6 $14 44. Qxb5 (44. Rxe7 Rxe7 45. Qxe7 Qd2+ {and the game will be drawn. Probably white should have done that.}) 44... Rc2+ $1 45. Re2 Qg6 46. Rxc2 Qxc2+ $11 {KQ-KQ} 47. Kf3 Qd1+ 48. Kf2 Qd2+ 49. Kf3 Qd1+ 50. Kf2 Qd2+ 51. Qe2 Qxb4 52. a6 Qb6+ 53. Kg2 Qa7 54. Qb5 Kg7 55. Qa4 h5 56. Qa2 Kf7 57. Qe2 Kf8 58. Kh3 Qg1 59. a7 $4 {[%eval -308,18] [%wdl 0,0,1000][%mdl 8192] I've honestly no idea what Muzychuk, but can fully sympathise with this collapse.} (59. g4 $11 {[%eval 0,53] [%wdl 2,996,2] and White has nothing to worry.}) 59... Qxa7 $19 60. Qxh5 Qe3 {[%eval -123,22] [%wdl 0,187,813]} (60... Qd7+ $19 {[%eval -305,17] [%wdl 0,0,1000] has better winning chances.} 61. Kg2 Kg7) 61. Qh8+ $17 Kf7 {Black is more active.} 62. Qh5+ $2 {[%eval -345,15] [%wdl 0,0,1000]} (62. Qh7+ $17 {[%eval -121,28] [%wdl 0,208,792]} Kf8 (62... Ke8 63. Qg8+ Kd7 64. Qg4+ Kc7 65. Qc4+ Kd8 66. Qc6 $11) 63. Qh8+ Kf7 64. Qh7+) 62... Kg7 $19 63. Qe8 Qe4 64. Kh2 Qe2+ 65. Kg1 Qe1+ 66. Kg2 Qd2+ 67. Kh3 Qe2 68. g4 Qf3+ 69. Kh2 Qe4 70. Kg3 Qe5+ 71. Kh3 f5 72. gxf5 Qxf5+ 73. Kg3 Qg5+ 74. Kf2 Kf6 75. Qh8+ Kf5 76. Qc8+ Kf6 77. Qh8+ Kg6 78. Qg8+ Kh6 79. Qh8+ Kg6 80. Qg8+ {[#]} Kh5 $1 81. Qf7+ Kh4 {aiming for ...Qf6+.} 82. Qh7+ {[%eval -546,15] [%wdl 0,0,1000]} (82. Qe8 {[%eval -347,19] [%wdl 0,0,1000] was called for.} Kg4 (82... Qxd5 83. Qxe7+ Kg4 84. Qg7+ Kf4 85. Qh6+ Kg4 86. Qg7+ Kf5 87. Qc3 $11) 83. Ke2) 82... Kg4 83. Kf1 {[%eval -32719,17] [%wdl 0,0,1000]} (83. Ke2 $19 {[%eval -508,21] [%wdl 0,0,1000]} Qe5+ (83... Qxd5 84. Qxe7 Qc4+ 85. Ke3 $11) 84. Kd2) 83... Qf5+ {Never resign too early!  Weighted Error Value: White=0.37/Black=0.27 (precise)  Loses game:   	White=2   	Black=1   Missed win:   	---    	Black=1   Mistake:    	White=7   	Black=5   Inaccurate:   	White=2   	Black=1   OK:     	White=25  	Black=25   Best:    	White=2   	Black=6   Strong:    	---    	Black=2} 0-1

[Event "FIDE Women Candidates"]
[Site "Pegeia CYP"]
[Date "2026.04.07"]
[Round "8.2"]
[White "Assaubayeva, Bibisara"]
[Black "Vaishali, Rameshbabu"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "Mark Crowther"]
[ECO "C55"]
[EventDate "2026.03.29"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 h6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. O-O Bxc3 7. bxc3 O-O $1 {7...0-0 scores better than 7...d6.} 8. Re1 d6 9. h3 Na5 10. Bb3 c5 11. Nd2 Be6 {[%cal Oc5c4]} 12. Bxe6 $146 ({Predecessor:} 12. c4 Nc6 13. Nf1 Kh8 14. Ng3 Ng8 15. f4 f6 16. f5 Bc8 17. Nh5 Qe8 18. Re3 {1-0 Ju,W (2559)-Muzychuk,A (2505) Norway Chess Armageddon (Women) 12th Stavanger rapid 2024 (2)}) 12... fxe6 13. Nf1 Nc6 14. f4 exf4 15. Bxf4 Ne7 16. Bxd6 {[%mdl 64] [#] Decoy} Qxd6 17. e5 Qc6 18. exf6 Rxf6 19. Nh2 Raf8 20. Ng4 {Repels Rf2} Rf5 21. Qe2 Nd5 22. Qe4 h5 23. Nh2 Rf4 24. Qxe6+ Qxe6 25. Rxe6 Rf2 26. c4 Nb4 27. a3 Nxc2 28. Ra2 Rd2 {(  ...Rd1+)} 29. Nf3 Rd1+ 30. Kh2 Nd4 31. Nxd4 cxd4 $11 {[%mdl 4096] Endgame KRR-KRR} 32. Rb2 b6 33. Re7 {[%eval -58,24] [%wdl 0,937,63]} (33. Rd6 $11 {[%eval 0,42] [%wdl 2,996,2]}) 33... h4 34. Re4 (34. Rxa7 Rff1 35. g3 (35. Ra8+ $2 Kh7 $19) 35... Rh1+ (35... Rxd3 36. gxh4 Rc3 37. Rd7 $15) 36. Kg2 Rhg1+ 37. Kf3 Rxg3+ (37... Rxd3+ $2 38. Ke4 $19) 38. Kf4 Rdxd3 (38... Rgxd3 39. Kg4 $17) (38... Rxh3 39. Rxb6 Rdxd3 40. c5 $17) 39. Rxb6 Rg1 (39... Rxa3 40. Rxa3 Rxa3 41. Rd6 $15) (39... Rxh3 40. Ra8+ Kh7 41. Ra5 $17)) 34... Rff1 {[%csl Gd1][%cal Rf1h1]} 35. Rxh4 Rh1+ 36. Kg3 Rxd3+ 37. Kf2 Rc1 38. Ke2 Rcc3 39. a4 Rg3 40. Kf2 d3 41. Rd4 Rxg2+ {[%mdl 64] [#] Decoy} 42. Kxg2 Rc2+ 43. Kg3 ({Don't blunder} 43. Rxc2 $2 dxc2 44. h4 c1=Q $19) 43... Rxb2 44. Rxd3 {KR-KR. The position is equal.} Ra2 45. Rd8+ Kh7 46. c5 Ra3+ 47. Kg2 Rxa4 48. cxb6 axb6 49. Rb8 Rb4 50. Rb7 Rb3 51. h4 Kh6 52. h5 Kh7 (52... Rb5 $5 53. Kf3 $8 Rb3+ (53... Kxh5 54. Rxg7 Rg5 55. Rb7 $11) 54. Ke2 g6 (54... Kxh5 55. Rxg7 Rb5 56. Rg8 $11) 55. hxg6 Kxg6 $11) 53. Kf2 Kh6 54. Kg2 Rb5 55. Kf3 Rb1 56. Kg2 Rb4 (56... Rb5 $5 57. Kf3 $8 Rf5+ (57... Kxh5 58. Rxg7 Rg5 59. Rd7 $11) 58. Ke4 Rf6 $11 (58... Rxh5 59. Rxb6+ Kg5 60. Kf3 $11)) 57. Kf3 Rb5 58. Kf4 Rb1 59. Kf3 Rf1+ 60. Kg4 Rg1+ 61. Kf3 Kxh5 {White must now prevent ...Rg6.} 62. Rxb6 Kh4 63. Rb8 Rg3+ 64. Kf2 g5 65. Rh8+ Kg4 66. Ra8 Rb3 67. Kg2 Rb2+ 68. Kg1 Kg3 {[%cal Rb2b1]} 69. Ra3+ Kh4 70. Ra4+ g4 71. Ra3 g3 72. Ra8 Rb1+ 73. Kg2 Rb2+ 74. Kg1 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Women Candidates"]
[Site "Pegeia CYP"]
[Date "2026.04.07"]
[Round "8.3"]
[White "Lagno, Kateryna"]
[Black "Goryachkina, Aleksandra"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Mark Crowther"]
[ECO "C45"]
[EventDate "2026.03.29"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5 8. g3 g6 {C45: Scotch Game.} 9. Bg2 Bg7 10. O-O O-O $1 {The position is equal.} 11. Re1 Re8 $1 {[%cal Re7e5]} 12. c4 Ba6 {White should prevent ...Qc5.} 13. Qc2 Qc5 {[#]} 14. Nd2 Nb6 {[%eval 65,16] [%wdl 157,843,0] Prevents Qa4.} (14... Rxe5 $11 {[%eval -11,20] [%wdl 5,980,15] The engine says black is even a fraction better. This must have been Lagno's prep, she would have had something here.} 15. Rxe5 Bxe5) 15. b3 $36 {[%mdl 2048] White has strong initiative.} f5 $4 $146 {[%eval 283,16] [%wdl 1000,0,0] and suddenly black is gone. He pieces don't coordinate and white has many natural moves.} (15... Rxe5 $16 {[%eval 72,20] [%wdl 206,794,0] Only move for black and they are OK.} 16. Bb2 Rxe1+ 17. Rxe1 Bxb2 18. Qxb2 d5) ({Predecessor:} 15... Rxe5 16. Bb2 Rxe1+ 17. Rxe1 Bxb2 18. Qxb2 d5 19. b4 Qf8 20. b5 cxb5 21. Bxd5 Nxd5 22. cxd5 {0-1 Zhang,D (2108)-Xu,Z (2489) CHN-chT Div-A Fuling 2022 (10.5)}) 16. Nf3 $18 Rab8 17. Be3 Qf8 18. Rad1 Bb7 19. Qd2 (19. Bxb6 axb6 20. Rxd7 Re7 $18) 19... c5 20. Qa5 (20. Bf4 h6 21. e6 d6 $16) 20... Bxf3 21. Bxf3 Bxe5 22. Bxc5 {[%cal Be3c5,Bc5a3,Ba3c1][%mdl 32]} (22. Qxc5 Qxc5 23. Bxc5 d6 $16) 22... d6 23. Ba3 {[%cal Of3c6]} c5 24. Qxa7 f4 {Black is weak on the light squares} 25. Kg2 Qf6 26. Bc1 Rf8 27. Rf1 d5 28. cxd5 (28. Bxd5+ Nxd5 29. cxd5 (29. Rxd5 fxg3 30. f4 Ra8 $14) 29... Qd6 $16) 28... Ra8 29. Qb7 Rxa2 {Threatens to win with ...fxg3.} 30. Rd2 {[%cal Bd1d2,Bd2e2,Be2e6][%mdl 32]} Raa8 {[%eval 353,18] [%wdl 1000,0,0] [#]} (30... Rxd2 {[%eval 189,19] [%wdl 994,6,0] might work better.} 31. Bxd2 Qd6) 31. d6 $1 {[%mdl 512]} Rab8 32. Qe7 Rbd8 33. Re2 Bxd6 34. Qxf6 Rxf6 35. Rd1 Rff8 36. Re6 Nc8 37. Bb2 Rf7 38. Bd5 Kf8 39. Bc4 Bc7 40. Rxd8+ Bxd8 41. Re5 Rc7 42. Re4 ({Less strong is} 42. gxf4 Bf6 $14) 42... g5 43. Be5 {Prevents Nd6.} ({But not} 43. gxf4 Nd6 44. Re6 Nxc4 45. bxc4 gxf4 $18) 43... Re7 44. gxf4 Bc7 45. Bd3 {This pair of bishops is nice.} g4 46. Kg3 Na7 47. Kxg4 {White is clearly winning.} Nc6 48. Bf6 Rd7 49. Bc4 Bd8 50. Bg5 Rd6 51. Kh5 Bf6 52. Re6 Rxe6 53. Bxe6 {[%mdl 4096] Endgame KBB-KBN. White is two pawns up.} Bg7 54. f5 Nd4 55. Bh6 Nf3 56. h3 {aiming for f6.} Nd4 57. Bg5 Ke8 58. Bg8 Nxf5 59. Bxh7 Nd6 60. Bd3 Bd4 61. Be3 Nb7 62. Bxd4 cxd4 63. b4 {Prevents Nc5} Nd8 64. Kg5 Ke7 65. Kf5 Ne6 66. h4 {Weighted Error Value: White=0.15 (very precise) /Black=0.24 (precise)  Loses game:   	---    	Black=1   Mistake:    	---    	Black=2   Inaccurate:   	White=1   	Black=1   OK:     	White=40  	Black=22   Best:    	White=1   	Black=2   Strong:    	---    	Black=2} 1-0

[Event "FIDE Women Candidates"]
[Site "Pegeia CYP"]
[Date "2026.04.07"]
[Round "8.4"]
[White "Tan, Zhongyi"]
[Black "Zhu, Jiner"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Mark Crowther"]
[ECO "E32"]
[EventDate "2026.03.29"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8. e3 d6 9. Ne2 Nbd7 10. Rd1 a5 {An interesting idea in an old fashioned opening.} 11. Qc2 Qe7 12. Nc3 h6 13. Bh4 Rfd8 $146 ({Predecessor:} 13... g5 14. Bg3 Nh5 15. Qe2 Ng7 16. f3 f5 17. e4 fxe4 18. fxe4 Nf6 19. Kd2 Nfh5 {0-1 Gladyszev,O (2473)-Nyzhnyk,I (2428) Kiev Independence Cup GM 8th 2008 (9)}) 14. f3 c5 15. Be2 Rac8 16. O-O cxd4 17. exd4 {[%eval 0,22] [%wdl 9,982,9]} ({White should play} 17. Rxd4 $16 {[%eval 97,21] [%wdl 460,540,0]} d5 18. Rfd1) 17... Ba6 $1 $11 18. Qb3 {[#]} d5 $1 19. Nb5 (19. cxd5 $2 Rxc3 20. bxc3 Bxe2 $19) 19... Nf8 20. Rfe1 {[%eval -83,20] [%wdl 0,694,306]} (20. cxd5 $11 {[%eval -24,22] [%wdl 3,971,26]} Rxd5 21. Rd2) 20... Ng6 $17 21. Bg3 dxc4 22. Bxc4 Nh5 23. Bf2 {[%eval -187,18] [%wdl 0,13,987]} (23. Bd3 $17 {[%eval -88,20] [%wdl 0,649,351]} Ngf4 24. Bf1) 23... Nhf4 24. Bf1 Qg5 25. Be3 {Black is winning.} Bxb5 $2 {[%eval -92,19] [%wdl 0,601,399] Completely wrong. Although black is better this win of a pawn is way too little to collect for such a big advantage.} (25... Rd5 $1 $19 {[%eval -223,18] [%wdl 0,2,998][%cal Rd5b5] and Black stays clearly on top.} 26. a4 Bxb5 27. axb5 Nh4 28. Bxf4 Qxf4) 26. Qxb5 Qxb5 27. Bxb5 Rc2 28. Rd2 Rxd2 29. Bxd2 Rxd4 30. Be3 Rd6 31. Rc1 Nd5 32. Bf2 {Svidler said he would have tried to do as little as possible here.} Nge7 33. a4 f6 34. Rd1 Kf7 35. h4 h5 36. Kh2 Ng6 37. g4 hxg4 38. fxg4 Ne5 39. Kg3 Ke7 {White has done well up to here and is almost equal.} 40. h5 Rd8 41. Rc1 Rb8 42. Kh3 $6 {[%eval -122,20] [%wdl 0,197,803] Now white starts to go wrong.} (42. b3 $11 {[%eval -11,24] [%wdl 1,996,3]}) 42... Nf7 {[%eval -27,22] [%wdl 0,991,9]} (42... Rh8 $17 {[%eval -122,20] [%wdl 0,197,803] Strongly threatening ...f5.} 43. Bg3 Nf3) 43. Rc6 {[%eval -108,22] [%wdl 0,376,624]} (43. Kg3 $11 {[%eval -27,22] [%wdl 0,991,9] remains equal.}) 43... Nd6 {[%eval -23,27] [%wdl 0,993,7]} ({Black should play} 43... Ne5 $17 {[%eval -108,22] [%wdl 0,376,624]} 44. Rc2 Rh8) 44. Bg3 {A strong pair of Bishops.} e5 45. Ba6 $6 {[%eval -110,21] [%wdl 0,338,662] Black keeps a firm grip on the game.} (45. Bf2 $15 {[%eval -47,23] [%wdl 0,969,31]}) 45... Ne4 46. Bd3 $6 {[%eval -177,17] [%wdl 0,7,993]} (46. Be2 $17 {[%eval -107,21] [%wdl 0,388,612] keeps fighting.}) 46... Ng5+ $19 {Black is winning again.} 47. Kg2 $6 {[%eval -247,21] [%wdl 0,0,1000]} (47. Kh2 $142 {[%eval -165,20] [%wdl 0,15,985]}) (47. Kh4) 47... Ne3+ 48. Kf2 Nxg4+ 49. Kf1 Ne6 {Black is winning.} 50. Be4 {[#]} f5 $1 51. Bb1 (51. Bd3 Rh8) 51... Kd7 52. Rc3 f4 53. Bh4 Ne3+ 54. Ke2 Nd4+ 55. Kd3 Ng4 56. Rc1 Nf3 {Inhibits Rg1.} 57. Be1 Nxe1+ 58. Rxe1 {[%mdl 4096]} Ke6 59. Rg1 Nf6 60. Rg5 Rd8+ 61. Ke2 Rd4 62. Ba2+ Kd6 63. Rg6 e4 64. h6 f3+ 65. Kf2 Rd2+ 66. Kg1 Rd1+ 67. Kf2 {[%eval -739,14] [%wdl 0,0,1000]} (67. Kh2 $142 {[%eval -440,13] [%wdl 0,0,1000]} f2 (67... Rd2+ $2 68. Kh3 $19) 68. Bc4) 67... Rd2+ 68. Kg1 gxh6 69. Rxf6+ {KRB-KR} Kc5 70. Kf1 Rxb2 71. Bf7 Kd4 72. Rf5 Ke3 {[%cal Rb2b1]} 73. Kg1 Rg2+ 74. Kh1 Rg5 75. Rf6 Kf2 {(  ...Rg4)} 76. Rxh6 e3 77. Rh2+ Rg2 {Weighted Error Value: White=0.29 (precise) /Black=0.18 (very precise)  Mistake:    	White=8   	Black=3   Inaccurate:   	White=4   	Black=4   OK:     	White=18  	Black=28   Best:    	White=2   	Black=6   Strong:    	---    	Black=1} 0-1

