Sindarov Upsets Pragg in Round 3, Shares Lead with Caruana

India’s R Praggnanandhaa encountered his first setback at the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 , going down to Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov in Round 3 at Paphos . Entering the round as a joint leader after a strong start highlighted by a win over Anish Giri and a composed draw against Wei Yi the young Indian Grandmaster faced a determined Sindarov, who played an enterprising game with the black pieces and converted his chances with precision to claim the full point.

The result saw Sindarov move into the joint lead alongside American Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana , both on 2.5 points after three rounds. Caruana, too, delivered a commanding performance, defeating Wei Yi in a sharp encounter. Elsewhere, Hikaru Nakamura drew with Giri, while Matthias Bluebaum shared points with Andrey Esipenko , underlining the intensely competitive and closely fought nature of the tournament.

However, it is still very early days in the tournament. With a demanding 14-round double round-robin format , the Candidates is as much a test of endurance and recovery as it is of brilliance. Praggnanandhaa, currently on 1.5 points, remains firmly in contention and well within striking distance of the leaders. A single win can quickly change standings in such a tightly packed field, and momentum often swings multiple times over the course of the event.

For Praggnanandhaa, the loss is unlikely to dent confidence significantly. His performances in the opening rounds showcased both attacking flair and positional maturity, signalling that he has the tools to compete at the highest level. More importantly, the tournament offers ample opportunities to bounce back, recalibrate, and build a fresh run in the remaining rounds.

With the winner earning the right to challenge reigning World Champion D Gukesh later this year, every game carries enormous weight—but patience and resilience remain key. As the Candidates progresses, Praggnanandhaa’s ability to regroup and respond will be crucial, and the early setback may yet prove to be just a minor hurdle in a long and demanding campaign.