While this month marks the meteoric rise of Sindarov as he wins the Candidates tournament to challenge Gukesh, I was a little disappointed to only see one Anti-Sicilian in the tournament.

Luckily, the Women’s Candidates had some more to pick from, and I’ve analysed a decisive game between Zhu and Assaubayeva with the notable 7..Rg8 in a Moscow line.

Other highlights include a king on d2 in a Rossolimo 3..e6, and some tough fought battles in the Rossolimo 3..g6 – including from Carlsen himself. Enjoy!

Moscow
Rossolimo
Sicilian 2.Nc3

Moscow Variation: 3..Nc6 4.0-0 Bd7 5.Re1 [B30]

In this popular line, 5..Nf6 is the most played. White generally responds with 6.c3, but we will look into 6.h3, which avoids lines with ..Bg4. An interesting way to avoid some theory.

Zhu, J – Assaubayeva, B continued in style with 6..a6 7.Bf1 Rg8!?, where White should be doing well but can certainly stumble, as Zhu did.

Another setup is 7..e5 8.c3 g5 which should be named after Simon Williams, who has played many games after 9.d4 g4. See Narva, M – Chasin, N.

Black reacted differently in Demchenko, A – Fruebing, S with 6..Ne5. This has been seen at high-level, but is less common. White won a brilliant game, which continued 7.a4 e6 8.Nxe5 dxe5 9.d3.

Moscow Variation: 3..Bd7 4.Bxd7 Nxd7 5.0-0 [B52]

Albornoz Cabrera, C – Popovic, M caught my eye since White breezed into a comfortable position quite quickly. The game continued 5..Ngf6 6.Qe2 e6 7.b3 Be7 8.c4

and White quickly took control of the game. Black did have a chance to stop him, but missed it.

Moscow
Rossolimo
Sicilian 2.Nc3

Rossolimo 3..g6: 4.Nc3 Bg7 [B23]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Bb5 Bg7

5.d3 was seen in Kadric, D – Lagarde, M. The Frenchman continued 5..e5 and quickly gained the initiative after 6.Nd5 Nce7!? 7.Bc4 Nxd5. Black easily won the game - worth the watch!

Through another move order, Carlsen chose 5.0-0 instead. The game continued 5..d6 6.Re1 Bd7 7.a4 Rc8 8.d3 Nf6

and White played 9.Nd5!?, a nice idea to confuse Black and which is applicable in many similar positions. See Carlsen, M – Giri, A.

Rossolimo 3.e6: 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.b3 e5 [B30]

This line rarely disappoints, and this game was no exception! After 6.Nxe5 Qe7 7.d4 f6 8.Nf3 Qxe4

White played 9.Kd2, which Black countered with 9..Kf7. This crazy position unsurprisingly led to an interesting game in Pavlidis, A – Kraemer, M, which White ultimately won.

Moscow
Rossolimo
Sicilian 2.Nc3

Sicilian 2.Nc3: 2..d6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 [B23]

It’s not everyday you see f4-Sicilians at high-level, especially not at the Candidates! Much to my dismay, Praggnanandhaa, R – Giri, A was the only Anti-Sicilian of the 2026 Candidates tournament. Perhaps Black is too afraid of it since my articles have been published?

Jokes aside, this was a very intense game that continued 4..d6 5.Bb5+ Bd7 6.a4

which White ultimately won, but I loved Giri’s treatment of the opening. Very instructive.

Till next time, Ezra

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