I’ll be traveling April 1st to 5th, so not sure how much I’ll be around. I think candidates tournament starts this weekend.
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Tournament starts tomorrow at 830 AM EST. Caruana with the white pieces vs Hikaru in round 1. I think all the pressure in the tournament is on Caruana. Even though he has already won the candidates. He would be the favorite over Gukesh. It might be now or never. You could definitely say the same thing about Hikaru, but I would say as far as results he has surpassed Caruana and I’d say he has the better career. He’s probably the best blitz player of all time. Caruana isn’t the best anything of all time, but he could be the first American to be world champ since Fischer.
I guess Morphy was never a world champion, as it didn’t exist. Fischer is the only American. They are probably the two most dominant of the known masters. And maybe Magnus. I think Magnus is the best. He’s been dominant for quite a while now.
Safe travels!
I am bored with Magnus. He’s the best but it’s boring now. I hope some dysfunctional weirdo emerges. The current crop of top players is dull.
Caruana, Pragg and Sindarov all won with white. Bad start for Hikaru, but maybe his toughest match of the tournament.
yup, still early but both made some bad errors:
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4 draws. Hikaru had black again. They play tomorrow and Wednesday. 4 days in a row before a day off.
This is making no news at all. All these names are old and boring. The chess world is in disarray. No new blood, no interest, the best player doesn’t play. Weird.
I can’t believe Hikaru is streaming. Clearly, this is not a big deal for him, lol. He’s married now. Might have a kid.
Espn is covering it.
Praggnanandhaa searches for light in Candidates amidst Gukesh’s shadow - ESPN https://share.google/Z1d7Q3HDyKmemCyG4
Caruana won. Pragg lost to Sindarov with white. Caruana and Sindarov in the lead. How do you like my “analysis?”
Perfect analysis. Concise and complete. All the information I want and nothing more.
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The leaders are going at it. Caruana is moving at a snail pace.
Actually, Sindarov is just playing fast. 13 moves in 5 minutes after the queen’s gambit.
Results & Standings - FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 | Open - Chess.com Sindarov Javokhir vs Caruana Fabiano - FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 | Open - Chess.com
great win for sindarov who is now in the lead!
he will play hikaru next, who basically has to beat him to stay in the tourney
Results & Standings - FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 | Open - Chess.com Nakamura Hikaru vs Sindarov Javokhir - FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 | Open - Chess.com
Sindarov is blowing Hikaru off the board with the black pieces. Hikaru barely has any time left. Fabiano has a decent chance to win with white.
Sindarov won. I shudder if he’s the next Magnus. An Uzbek with a strong accent isn’t going to move anyone to follow chess, including me.
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Fabiano won. If he can beat Sindarov in round 11, he might have a chance.
yes, way too early to even see him in the top5 yet, a loss against fabiano would change everything… but the kid is doing very well so far (and so is his fellow countryman abdusattorov! April 2026 Ratings: Abdusattorov Ascends To World Number 4; Bodhana Cracks Women's Top 100 - Chess.com )
lol interesting how hikaru mentions not seeing his opponent castling as the reason of losing that game!
Comes out next Tuesday. I probably will not watch it, although I do like Magnus.
Hikaru streamed right after this match. This seems like a low priority for him. I guess he can just play for fun now. He hasn’t played many top players in classical lately. Seems it is showing.