Matthias bl

World Championship Final Match: Uzbekistan's Javokhir Sindarov on Tuesday secured the top spot in the 2026 FIDE Candidates tournament with a round to spare, thus qualifying to challenge India's Gukesh Dommaraju in the World Championship Final Match later this year.

In the 13th and penultimate round played at Pegeia in Cyprus, Sindarov drew with Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri to take his tally to 9.5 points, an unbeatable lead over the next-placed opponent. Giri is placed second with 7.5 points, while American Fabiano Caruana and China's Wei Yi are following next with 6.5 points.

India's lone representative in the men's section, R. Praggnanandhaa, had a disappointing debut in the Candidates and is placed seventh going into the final round.