Abdusattorov holds the top spot on the FIDE Circuit 2026-27 standings despite sitting out classical chess since March. His lead is shrinking fast. Sindarov closed the gap to just 2.75 points after winning the European Individual Championship in Cyprus.
The recent FIDE Candidates tournament shook up the entire leaderboard. Giri and Caruana, who finished second and third in that event, cracked the top 10. Wei Yi also entered the elite group.
Hakobian moved up two positions with a third-place finish at the Karpov tournament, earning 6.2 circuit points. Ivanchuk accumulated 10.2 points across two tournaments in Reykjavik and San Vicente, securing another top-three position.
The 2026-27 circuit is taking shape as a real race. Abdusattorov's inactivity since March means Sindarov has a genuine chance to seize the lead if the Uzbek master doesn't return to competitive play soon. The field behind them is deep and hungry. This circuit will matter.