FIDE Candidates 2026 Open Section: Sindarov plays a quick draw with Nakamura to extends lead in standings

It was in stark contrast to his fifth-round outing, when Hikaru Nakamura took over an hour for a single move, as his Round 12 clash against Open section leader Javokhir Sindarov (nine points) ended in a draw in under 45 minutes on Sunday.

Sindarov opened with 1. d4, and the game soon transitioned into a Catalan-style setup with g3 and Bg2. Nakamura chose a solid theoretical line, conceding central space but gaining the bishop pair.

Between moves nine and 26, the players exchanged queens and most of the minor pieces. By move 26 (Rd1 Rxd1), the position had been stripped of its major attacking potential. Sindarov held a slightly better king position, but Nakamura’s bishops provided sufficient compensation.

With little scope for progress, both players shuffled their pieces before agreeing to a draw.

More to follow…

Published on Apr 12, 2026