Javokhir Sindarov leads the 2026 Candidates Tournament at the halfway point with 6/7, the best halfway score in Candidates history since Magnus Carlsen's dominant 2013 run. The young Uzbek has been in a different class from the rest of the field.
Sindarov beat Caruana in round two, Gukesh in round four, and Abdusattorov in round six. Those are three of the most dangerous players in the field, and he beat all three cleanly. His game against Abdusattorov was the highlight: a Queen's Gambit Declined where Sindarov found a pawn break on move 19 that stripped Black's kingside. Abdusattorov resigned on move 34.
Nakamura is second at 4.5/7, a full point and a half back. Caruana and Abdusattorov sit on 4/7 and are realistically fighting for second place. Gukesh has had a poor first half and is effectively out of contention at 3/7.
A halfway lead of 1.5 points is very difficult to overcome in a Candidates field this strong. Sindarov would need to collapse completely in the second half for anyone to catch him, and there is no sign of that coming.