Javokhir Sindarov from Uzbekistan dominated the world championship Candidates tournament held in Pegeia, Cyprus, finishing with a record score of 10/14, 1.5 points ahead of his closest competitor, Anish Giri from the Netherlands. Sindarov's performance, which included six victories and eight draws, is the highest total since the current Candidates format was introduced in 2013. He will face Gukesh Dommaraju, the reigning world champion from India, in a match scheduled for the second half of 2026. Meanwhile, in the women's Candidates, India's Vaishali Rameshbabu, initially struggling with zero wins after five rounds, rallied to finish with 8.5 points, edging out Kazakhstan's Bibisara Assaubayeva. Vaishali's journey highlights her determination and skill, especially as she secured her victory despite a challenging start. The upcoming championship match will see Vaishali challenge five-time reigning champion Ju Wenjun, who holds a peak rating above 2600. The chess community is also buzzing with the potential return of Magnus Carlsen, the world No. 1, to classical chess, particularly if a match against Sindarov becomes a possibility.