Welcome to Sportstar’s Live coverage of the ninth round of the FIDE Candidates 2026 tournament happening in Cyprus on Wednesday.
R Praggnanandhaa (White) vs Wei Yi (Black) – Round 9 Live board
Divya Deshmukh (Black) vs R Vaishali (White) – Round 9 Live board
April 08, 2026 18:05
Sindarov reaping rewards of strategising for years, says chess coach GM Shyam Sundar
Candidates 2026 — Sindarov reaping rewards of strategising for years, says chess coach Shyam Sundar
Javokhir Sindarov has been the story of the tournament. He defeated World No. 3 Fabiano Caruana with 42 minutes on his clock against Caruana’s 48 seconds.
April 08, 2026 17:57
Sindarov enters Round 9 after a draw
Javokhir Sindarov is the leader of the pack, he comes into the match after a quick draw against Andrey Esipenko yesterday. Bluebaum will likely aim for a solid, sterile position to try and halt Sindarov momentum today.
April 08, 2026 17:53
Can Vaishali topple Divya today
GM R Vaishali surged to top by holding Bibisara to draw in Round 8 yesterday. Her most significant recent result was a Round 7 win over former champion Tan Zhongyi.
April 08, 2026 17:51
The players respond to who has best opening ideas, take a look
April 08, 2026 17:49
Praggnanandhaa vs Wei Yi
Praggnanandhaa will aim to bounce back after his Round 8 loss to Anish Giri, and will to use his white-side preparation to break through Wei Yi’s defensive play.
April 08, 2026 17:46
What happened when Vaishali played Divya earlier in tournament
The first all-Indian clash of the event ended in a draw after a hard-fought game arising from the Queen’s Gambit Decline.
April 08, 2026 17:45
Divya Deshmukh to joint-lead
Divya Deshmukh moved into joint lead after a massive Round 8 victory against the previous sole leader, Anna Muzychuk. Earlier, in Round 7, she survived a marathon 135-move draw against Kateryna Lagno.
April 08, 2026 17:39
Divya defeated Anna Muzychuk yesterday, read the report below
FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026, Round 8: Sindarov drops points, held to draw by Esipenko
Sindarov had previously won against the Russian, but this time the game started fast and remained balanced between moves 11 and 18, as both players simplified the center and activated their pieces effectively.
April 08, 2026 17:37
Women section pairings for Round 9 today:
Tan Zhongyi — Anna Muzychuk Zhu Jiner — Kateryna Lagno Aleksandra Goryachkina — Bibisara Assaubayeva Vaishali Rameshbabu — Divya Deshmukh
April 08, 2026 17:36
Open section pairings for Round 9 today:
Hikaru Nakamura — Andrey Esipenko Fabiano Caruana — Anish Giri Praggnanandhaa R — Wei Yi Matthias Bluebaum — Javokhir Sindarov
April 08, 2026 17:35
It is Round 9 today
Hello and welcome to Sportstar’s coverage of Round 9 of the ongoing FIDE Candidates.
FIDE Candidates 2026: Follow all the live updates from Round 9 of the Candidates tournament happening in Cyprus on Wednesday.
Updated : Apr 08, 2026 18:05 IST
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Welcome to Sportstar’s Live coverage of the ninth round of the FIDE Candidates 2026 tournament happening in Cyprus on Wednesday.
R Praggnanandhaa (White) vs Wei Yi (Black) – Round 9 Live board
Divya Deshmukh (Black) vs R Vaishali (White) – Round 9 Live board
April 08, 2026 18:05
Sindarov reaping rewards of strategising for years, says chess coach GM Shyam Sundar
Candidates 2026 — Sindarov reaping rewards of strategising for years, says chess coach Shyam Sundar
Javokhir Sindarov has been the story of the tournament. He defeated World No. 3 Fabiano Caruana with 42 minutes on his clock against Caruana’s 48 seconds.
April 08, 2026 17:57
Sindarov enters Round 9 after a draw
Javokhir Sindarov is the leader of the pack, he comes into the match after a quick draw against Andrey Esipenko yesterday. Bluebaum will likely aim for a solid, sterile position to try and halt Sindarov momentum today.
April 08, 2026 17:53
Can Vaishali topple Divya today
GM R Vaishali surged to top by holding Bibisara to draw in Round 8 yesterday. Her most significant recent result was a Round 7 win over former champion Tan Zhongyi.
April 08, 2026 17:51
The players respond to who has best opening ideas, take a look
April 08, 2026 17:49
Praggnanandhaa vs Wei Yi
Praggnanandhaa will aim to bounce back after his Round 8 loss to Anish Giri, and will to use his white-side preparation to break through Wei Yi’s defensive play.
April 08, 2026 17:46
What happened when Vaishali played Divya earlier in tournament
The first all-Indian clash of the event ended in a draw after a hard-fought game arising from the Queen’s Gambit Decline.
April 08, 2026 17:45
Divya Deshmukh to joint-lead
Divya Deshmukh moved into joint lead after a massive Round 8 victory against the previous sole leader, Anna Muzychuk. Earlier, in Round 7, she survived a marathon 135-move draw against Kateryna Lagno.
April 08, 2026 17:39
Divya defeated Anna Muzychuk yesterday, read the report below
FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026, Round 8: Sindarov drops points, held to draw by Esipenko
Sindarov had previously won against the Russian, but this time the game started fast and remained balanced between moves 11 and 18, as both players simplified the center and activated their pieces effectively.
April 08, 2026 17:37
Women section pairings for Round 9 today:
Tan Zhongyi — Anna Muzychuk Zhu Jiner — Kateryna Lagno Aleksandra Goryachkina — Bibisara Assaubayeva Vaishali Rameshbabu — Divya Deshmukh
April 08, 2026 17:36
Open section pairings for Round 9 today:
Hikaru Nakamura — Andrey Esipenko Fabiano Caruana — Anish Giri Praggnanandhaa R — Wei Yi Matthias Bluebaum — Javokhir Sindarov
April 08, 2026 17:35
It is Round 9 today
Hello and welcome to Sportstar’s coverage of Round 9 of the ongoing FIDE Candidates.
#Deadspin #Report #NBA #action #Bucks #Giannis #investigation">Deadspin | Report: NBA taking no action after Bucks, Giannis investigation
Mar 10, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) shoots during warmups prior to the game against the Phoenix Suns at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
The NBA will not be taking any action after concluding its investigation into Giannis Antetokounmpo being shut down for the final month of the season, according to a report by ESPN on Tuesday.
The two-time MVP hyperextended his left knee on March 15 against the Indiana Pacers and did not play in the final 15 games of the season for the Bucks, who missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
However, the team and its star player had differing stories on his health and desire to return by the time the team had been eliminated from contention in late March.
Antetokounmpo told reporters in early April that he was healthy but being held out by the team.
“I’m available to play, but I’m not in the game,” Antetokounmpo said on April 3. “I’m available to play today. Right now. I’m available.
“For somebody to come and tell me to not play or not to compete, it’s like a slap in my face. So I don’t know where the relationship goes from there.”
Per the report, the Bucks told investigators that they didn’t believe Antetokounmpo actually wanted to return, citing his refusal to participate in 3-on-3 scrimmage work at practice to show his recovery progress.
Antetokounmpo also denied this claim in his exit interview with media members.
“From my understanding, coming back to play, which I don’t think I ever had any return-to-play protocol, but to my understanding was I had to play 3-on-3 to be able to be available to play,” Antetokounmpo said. “I did that multiple times. I’ve never in my life denied participation of practice.”
ESPN reported Monday that the Bucks are once again exploring a pre-draft trade for Antetokounmpo, 31. Milwaukee also explored this option before the trade deadline before electing to hold onto its star player until at least the summer window.
Antetokounmpo has one year left on his deal before a player option for the 2027-28 season.
The 10-time All-Star and nine-time All-NBA player has averaged 24.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.1 steals over 13 seasons and 895 games (830 starts) with the Bucks, leading them to the franchise’s first NBA title in 50 years in 2021.
PEORIA, ARIZONA – MARCH 14: Shotaro Morii #18 of the Athletics bats during the eighth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the San Diego Padres at Peoria Stadium on March 14, 2025 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) Diamond Images/Getty Images
PEORIA, ARIZONA – MARCH 14: Shotaro Morii #18 of the Athletics bats during the eighth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the San Diego Padres at Peoria Stadium on March 14, 2025 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) Diamond Images/Getty Images
#Shotaro #Morii #set #MLB #3way #player #journey">Shotaro Morii set to begin his MLB 3-way player journey
PEORIA, ARIZONA – MARCH 14: Shotaro Morii #18 of the Athletics bats during the eighth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the San Diego Padres at Peoria Stadium on March 14, 2025 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) Diamond Images/Getty Images
#Ted #Lasso #actor #Cristo #Fernandez #signs #secondtier #football #club">Ted Lasso actor Cristo Fernandez signs for US second-tier football club
Ted Lasso actor Cristo Fernandez has taken his role as a footballer from the small screen to the football pitch after signing a professional contract with U.S. second-tier side El Paso Locomotive FC.
Fernandez, who played youth football in Mexico before stepping away from the sport at the age of 15 due to a knee injury, portrayed Dani Rojas in the hit Apple TV+ show about a British team with a U.S. coach.
On the sidelines of his acting career, Fernandez, 35, had also been pursuing a return to professional football and trained with Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire’s reserves earlier this year.
Before signing for El Paso on Tuesday, he underwent a two-month trial with the USL Championship club which also included a pre-season appearance.
“(Football) has always been a huge part of my life and identity, and no matter where life has taken me, the dream of competing professionally never truly left my heart,” Fernandez said on the club website.
“Maybe, I’m just a crazy man with crazy dreams.”
El Paso, founded in 2018, is fourth in Group B of the USL Championship standings.
“Cristo is a great addition to our roster, adding another attacking threat to our forward line,” the club’s head coach Junior Gonzalez said.
“His passion for the game and leadership qualities for our locker room allow us to continue growing the positive culture we strive for as a club.”
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