Chess NewsApril 13, 2026
FIDE Candidates 2026 after Round 12: Sindarov leads, but the final sprint is still full of tension
DeepBlunder
4 min read

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The European Individual Chess Championship 2026 has started in Katowice with a record field, World Cup qualification places, and the kind of late-round pressure that reveals how real tournament chess works.

A complete guide to how the European Individual Chess Championship works, why it matters for ambitious players, and why it is one of the most useful tournaments for serious chess fans to follow.

Round 11 of the FIDE Candidates 2026 arrives after the rest day in Cyprus, with Fabiano Caruana facing tournament leader Javokhir Sindarov in the game that could reshape the entire event.