FIDE Candidates Chess Tournament 2026: FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 will determine the challenger for the World Chess Championship. Over fourteen grueling rounds, eight of the world’s strongest grandmasters will battle for the right to challenge the reigning world champion, Gukesh D.
The field combines seasoned candidates veterans with fearless new challengers. Some qualified through spectacular tournament victories; others through consistency across the elite circuit, but all arrive in Cyprus with one goal: to win the most demanding tournament in professional chess.
The Candidates Tournament is widely regarded as the toughest event – fourteen rounds, no easy games, and every half-point can change the destiny of the tournament.
To add to the excitement, this year’s lineup promises a fascinating clash of styles and generations: experienced contenders such as Caruana, Giri, and Nakamura; rising stars like Praggnanandhaa, Sindarov, and Esipenko, alongside elite technicians such as Bluebaum and Wei Yi.
READ: Why Praggnanandhaa Surprisingly Feels ‘Old’ Ahead of Candidates 2026 Chess?
With elite GM commentators Jan Gustafsson and Peter Svidler calling the action, one thing is certain: in Cyprus, every move will matter.
The eight players in Candidates 2026 and their ratings as of March:
Fabiano Caruana (USA) – The world no. 3 has a rating of 2795.
R Praggnanandhaa (India) – Pragg has a live rating of 2741.
Anish Giri (Netherlands) – The world no. 8 has a live rating of 2753.
Matthias Blübaum (Germany) – The German has a rating of 2698.
Javokhir Sindarov (Uzbekistan) – The 20-year-old has a rating of 2745.
Wei Yi (China) – World no. 7 has a rating of 2754.
Andrey Esipenko (Russia) – He has a rating of 2698.
Hikaru Nakamura (USA) – The world no. 2 has a 2810 rating.
The eight players in Women’s Candidates 2026:
Zhu Jiner (China)
Aleksandra Goryachkina (Russia)
Divya Deshmukh (India)
Tan Zhongyi (China)
Vaishali Rameshbabu (India)
Kateryna Lagno (Russia)
Bibisara Assaubayeva (Kazakhstan)
Anna Muzychuk (Ukraine)
Indian players’ schedule
All matches will start at 7 pm IST.
March 29: Round 1
R Praggnanandhaa – Anish Giri
Divya Deshmukh – Anna Muzychuk
Vaishali R – Bibisara Assaubayeva
March 30: Round 2
Wei Yi – R Praggnanandhaa
Divya Deshmukh – Vaishali R
March 31: Round 3
R Praggnanandhaa- Javokhir Sindarov
Vaishali R – Anna Muzychuk
Aleksandra Goryachkina – Divya Deshmukh
April 1: Round 4
Matthias Blübaum – R Praggnanandhaa
Divya Deshmukh – Zhu Jiner
Vaishali R – Aleksandra Goryachkina
April 2: Rest Day
April 3: Round 5
R Praggnanandhaa – Andrey Esipenko
Zhu Jiner – Vaishali R
Tan Zhongyi – Divya Deshmukh
April 4: Round 6
Hikaru Nakamura – R Praggnanandhaa
Kateryna Lagno – Vaishali R
Bibisara Assaubayeva – Divya Deshmukh
April 5: Round 7
R Praggnanandhaa – Fabiano Caruana
Divya Deshmukh – Kateryna Lagno
Vaishali R – Tan Zhongyi
April 6: Rest Day
April 7: Round 8
Anish Giri – R Praggnanandhaa
Anna Muzychuk – Divya Deshmukh
Bibisara Assaubayeva – Vaishali R
April 8: Round 9
R Praggnanandhaa – Wei Yi
Vaishali R – Divya Deshmukh
April 9: Round 10
Javokhir Sindarov – R Praggnanandhaa
Anna Muzychuk – Vaishali R
Divya Deshmukh – Aleksandra Goryachkina
April 10: Rest Day
April 11: Round 11
R Praggnanandhaa- Matthias Blubaum
Zhu Jiner – Divya Deshmukh
Aleksandra Goryachkina – Vaishali R
April 12: Round 12
Andrey Esipenko – R Praggnanandhaa
Vaishali R – Zhu Jiner
Divya Deshmukh – Tan Zhongyi
April 13: Rest Day
April 14: Round 13
Fabiano Caruana – R Praggnanandhaa
Kateryna Lagno – Divya Deshmukh
Tan Zhongyi – Vaishali R
April 15: Round 14
R Praggnanandhaa- Hikaru Nakamura
Vaishali R – Kateryna Lagno
Divya Deshmukh – Bibisara Assaubayeva
April 16: Tiebreaks (if required)
