India’s Divya Deshmukh and R. Vaishali moved up the standings to share the lead with three other players after the eighth round of the FIDE Women’s Candidates in Cyprus on Sunday.
Meanwhile in the Open section, young Uzbek Javokhir Sindarov continued leading the standings with a two-point lead ahead of Fabiano Caruana and Anish Giri. R. Praggnanandhaa dropped to fourth after a loss to Giri.
Divya beat Ukraine’s Anna Muzychuk, while Vaishali drew with Bibisara Assaubayeva to improve their position significantly.
Standings – After Round 8
Open
1. Javokhir Sindarov – 6.5
2. Fabiano Caruana – 4.5
3. Anish Giri – 4.5
4. Hikaru Nakamura – 3.5
5. Wei Yi – 3.5
6. R. Praggnanandhaa – 3.5
7. Matthias Bluebaum – 3.5
8. Andrey Esipenko – 2.5
Women’s
1. Zhu Jiner – 4.5
2. Anna Muzychuk – 4.5
3. Kateryna Lagno – 4.5
4. Divya Deshmukh – 4.5
5. R. Vaishali – 4.5
6. Aleksandra Goryachkina – 3.5
7. Bibisara Assaubayeva – 3.5
8. Tan Zhongyi – 2.5
Published on Apr 08, 2026
Standings – After Round 8
Open
1. Javokhir Sindarov – 6.5
2. Fabiano Caruana – 4.5
3. Anish Giri – 4.5
4. Hikaru Nakamura – 3.5
5. Wei Yi – 3.5
6. R. Praggnanandhaa – 3.5
7. Matthias Bluebaum – 3.5
8. Andrey Esipenko – 2.5
Women’s
1. Zhu Jiner – 4.5
2. Anna Muzychuk – 4.5
3. Kateryna Lagno – 4.5
4. Divya Deshmukh – 4.5
5. R. Vaishali – 4.5
6. Aleksandra Goryachkina – 3.5
7. Bibisara Assaubayeva – 3.5
8. Tan Zhongyi – 2.5