New Delhi: Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa made a winning start at the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026, which began at the Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort, Cyprus, on Sunday.
The prestigious event, featuring 16 top contenders across the Open and Women’s sections, opened with high-intensity games and strong performances from Indian players.
Praggnanandhaa delivered a clinical performance against Dutch grandmaster Anish Giri to register his first win and move into the early lead group. The Indian prodigy surprised his opponent with the rare Grand Prix Attack and maintained a rapid pace throughout the opening, fide.com reported.
Giri, caught off guard, spent significant time responding and failed to recover as Praggnanandhaa converted his advantage efficiently.
Pre-tournament favourites, including Fabiano Caruana and Javokhir Sindarov, also secured victories in the opening round. Three out of four games in the Open section produced decisive results, indicating an aggressive start to the tournament.
In the Women’s Candidates Tournament, Indian players showed solid preparation despite all games ending in draws.
Divya Deshmukh introduced a fresh idea in the Scotch Opening, catching her Ukrainian opponent Anna Muzychuk off guard in the early phase. However, the game eventually concluded without a decisive result.
R Vaishali also showcased innovation by opting for a new line in the Sicilian Kalashnikov against Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva. Despite the creative approach, she could not convert the opening advantage into a win.
The tournament has begun on a competitive note, with Indian players making a strong impact in both sections.
