The first day of the 2026 Chess.com Open Playoffs has concluded. Russian GM Daniil Dubov defeated Candidates 2026 Winner Javokhir Sindarov and advanced to the quarterfinals.

Dubov defeated Sindarov three games out of three. Daniil sacrificed a Knight in the second game and a Queen in the third. Dubov played the games with an average accuracy of 96.7, while Sindarov’s was 89.4. Javokhir Sindarov will play French GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in the first round of the lower bracket.

The Chess.com Open 2026 is a major qualifying pathway for the Esports World Cup 2026, running from March 14 to April 26. The top three finishers in the playoffs qualify for the EWC, and the total tournament prize pool is $250,000.

Credit: Lennart Ootes