4/4/2026 – Head-to-head records between the participants of the Candidates Tournaments provide useful context for each pairing. Drawing on data compiled via Mega Database 2026, the key statistics from past encounters highlight imbalances and trends. While such figures are not decisive, they offer an additional perspective on how rivalries have developed before a tournament that will determine the next challenger for the world title.

4/4/2026 – Three players share the lead after five rounds at the Women's Candidates Tournament, with Zhu Jiner and Kateryna Lagno joining Anna Muzychuk on 3/5. Both Zhu and Lagno scored their second wins of the event, while Muzychuk agreed a quick draw with Aleksandra Goryachkina, who remains unbeaten with five draws. Tan Zhongyi and Divya Deshmukh also split the point in a balanced game, leaving the standings tightly packed with all eight players separated by just one point. | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

4/4/2026 – Javokhir Sindarov's formidable start continued in round five of the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus, as he defeated top seed Hikaru Nakamura with the black pieces to reach a 4½/5 score. Fabiano Caruana also won, beating Matthias Bluebaum to remain one point behind. The decisive games saw Nakamura and Bluebaum faltering in the opening phase. The remaining two encounters ended drawn. | Photo: FIDE / Yoav Nis

4/3/2026 – Head-to-head records between the participants of the Candidates Tournaments provide useful context for each pairing. Drawing on data compiled via Mega Database 2026, the key statistics from past encounters highlight imbalances and trends. While such figures are not decisive, they offer an additional perspective on how rivalries have developed before a tournament that will determine the next challenger for the world title.

4/2/2026 – Anna Muzychuk and Bibisara Assaubayeva share the lead after round four of the Women's Candidates Tournament, following two decisive games on Wednesday: Muzychuk defeated Kateryna Lagno, while Zhu Jiner overcame Divya Deshmukh. Assaubayeva missed chances to take sole first place in her draw with Tan Zhongyi, while Vaishali Rameshbabu held Aleksandra Goryachkina after facing early pressure. | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

4/2/2026 – A clear leader has emerged after four rounds of the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus. Javokhir Sindarov defeated Fabiano Caruana in the clash of co-leaders to move to 3½ out of 4, with a full-point lead over his closest chaser. Anish Giri also won, beating Andrey Esipenko with black to return to a fift-percent score, while the remaining two games were drawn ahead of the tournament's first rest day. | Photo: FIDE / Yoav Nis

4/1/2026 – Head-to-head records between the participants of the Candidates Tournaments provide useful context for each pairing. Drawing on data compiled via Mega Database 2026, the key statistics from past encounters highlight imbalances and trends. While such figures are not decisive, they offer an additional perspective on how rivalries have developed before a tournament that will determine the next challenger for the world title.

4/1/2026 – Two decisive games in round three of the Women's Candidates Tournament saw Bibisara Assaubayeva and Kateryna Lagno move into the lead. Assaubayeva capitalised on tactical complications to defeat Zhu Jiner, who had again obtained a promising position, while Lagno overcame Tan Zhongyi after a wild encounter featuring a number of blunders and tactical shots. Aleksandra Goryachkina pressed throughout but could not convert against Divya Deshmukh, while Vaishali Rameshbabu's game against Anna Muzychuk ended in a controlled draw. | Photo: FIDE / Yoav Nis

4/1/2026 – Two players have already established a clear lead after three rounds of the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus. Fabiano Caruana and Javokhir Sindarov both secured their second wins to move a full point ahead of the field. Caruana defeated Wei Yi following an uncharacteristic pair of errors by the Chinese grandmaster, while Sindarov overcame Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu in a double-edged struggle. | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

3/31/2026 – Head-to-head records between the participants of the Candidates Tournaments provide useful context for each pairing. Drawing on data compiled via Mega Database 2026, the key statistics from past encounters highlight imbalances and trends. While such figures are not decisive, they offer an additional perspective on how rivalries have developed before a tournament that will determine the next challenger for the world title.

3/31/2026 – Missed opportunities remained a recurring theme in round two of the Women's Candidates, where all four games again ended in draws. Zhu Jiner obtained a clearly superior position against Kateryna Lagno but failed to convert, allowing a perpetual check to save the game. In the all-Indian encounter, Divya Deshmukh (pictured) also let an advantage slip after overlooking a tactical resource by Vaishali Rameshbabu. | Photo: FIDE / Yoav Nis

3/31/2026 – All four games in round two of the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus ended in draws, leaving the standings unchanged. Fabiano Caruana, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu and Javokhir Sindarov remain tied for the lead on 1½/2 points. Pragg and Andrey Esipenko got the best chances to fight for more than a draw on Monday, but saw their opponents successfully keeping things under control. Round three will see a clash of co-leaders, as Pragg is set to play white against Sindarov. | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

3/30/2026 – Head-to-head records between the participants of the Candidates Tournaments provide useful context for each pairing. Drawing on data compiled via Mega Database 2026, the key statistics from past encounters highlight imbalances and trends. While such figures are not decisive, they offer an additional perspective on how rivalries have developed before a tournament that will determine the next challenger for the world title.

3/30/2026 – The 2026 Candidates Tournament kicked off in style, with three decisive results from four games, all in favour of the player with the white piece. Fabiano Caruana defeated Hikaru Nakamura in the all-American clash between top seeds, while Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu and Javokhir Sindarov scored wins of different nature over Anish Giri and Andrey Esipenko, respectively. The only draw came in Matthias Bluebaum v. Wei Yi. | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

3/30/2026 – The Women's Candidates began in Pegeia with four draws in round one, though the games featured a number of missed chances. The event, held alongside the open section for a second time, brings together five returning players from 2024 and three young talents. Early pairings included two all-national encounters, while late changes following Humpy Koneru's withdrawal altered the draw. Time pressure and opening surprises marked the first day of action. | Pictured: Aleksandra Goryachkina | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

3/29/2026 – The KazChess Masters, held in Shymkent from 21 to 29 March, brought together five experienced international grandmasters and five emerging Kazakhstani players in a single round-robin format. Pranav Venkatesh secured first place with 7½/9, finishing clear of Shamsiddin Vokhidov. The event also highlighted the progress of local talents, notably Danis Kuandykuly (born in 2013), who exceeded expectations with a 4/9 score. | Photo: Kazakhstan Chess Federation

3/29/2026 – Head-to-head records between the participants of the Candidates Tournaments provide useful context for each pairing. Drawing on data compiled via Mega Database 2026, the key statistics from past encounters highlight imbalances and trends. While such figures are not decisive, they offer an additional perspective on how rivalries have developed before a tournament that will determine the next challenger for the world title.

3/27/2026 – The Court of Arbitration for Sport has ruled in favour of Ukraine in its case against the Chess Federation of Russia, concluding that earlier sanctions imposed by FIDE were insufficient. The decision requires the Russian Federation to cease organising chess activities in several annexed regions within 90 days or face suspension from international competition. The case centres on events held in territories internationally recognised as Ukrainian. | Photo: TAS/CAS (Tribunal Arbitral du Sport)