FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026, one of the most prestigious events in the chess world, is being held in Paphos, Cyprus between March 28 â April 16, 2026. The world's 8 strongest grandmasters will compete for the right to challenge for the World Chess Championship. In this guide, you will find all the details of the tournament, profiles of the contenders, and a viewing guide.
What Is the Candidates Tournament?
FIDE Candidates Tournament is the most critical stage of the World Chess Championship cycle. The winner of the tournament earns the right to play a title match against the reigning World Champion.
The Candidates Tournament can be thought of as the "semifinal" of the chess world. Players who successfully qualify through tournaments such as the World Cup, Grand Swiss, Grand Prix, and FIDE Circuit come together here.
The winner of the Candidates Tournament advances directly to the World Championship match. This is one of the highest achievements a chess player can attain.
Tournament Details: Date, Venue, Format
How Does the Format Work?
In a double round-robin format, each player faces the other 7 opponents twice (once with White, once with Black). A total of 14 rounds are played. The player with the highest score wins the tournament.
- Value of a win: 1 point
- Value of a draw: ½ point
- Value of a loss: 0 points
In case of a tie, tiebreak matches will be played on April 16.
Time Control
A classical (long) time control is used in the tournament:
For the remaining moves: 30 minutes + 30 minutes
Increment per move: 30 seconds
Profiles of the 8 Candidates
This year's Candidates Tournament brings together 8 grandmasters from different generations and different countries. Here are detailed profiles of the candidates:
1. Hikaru Nakamura ðºð¸
One of the most well-known names in the chess world, Nakamura has achieved extraordinary success in both over-the-board and online chess. At age 15, he earned the title of the youngest grandmaster in U.S. history. He became U.S. Champion 5 times. He also has millions of followers on Twitch as the world's most popular chess streamer.
Strengths: Exceptional fast calculation, excellent performance under time pressure, broad opening repertoire. His dominance especially in blitz and rapid chess is at a legendary level.
Candidates history: He participated in the 2016 and 2024 Candidates Tournaments. In 2024, he delivered a great performance by finishing second in Toronto.
2. Fabiano Caruana ðºð¸
Caruana is the only American player who played a World Championship match against Magnus Carlsen in 2018 and drew the classical portion. His 2844 FIDE rating, achieved in 2014, became the highest rating ever reached by an American since Bobby Fischer.
Strengths: Deep strategic understanding, superior opening preparation, extraordinary endurance in the classical format. He is one of the best in the world in positional chess.
Candidates history: The most experienced name in the tournament. He participated in the 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020-21, 2022, and 2024 Candidates Tournaments. By winning in 2018, he advanced to the World Championship match.
3. Anish Giri ð³ð±
Giri, a Dutch grandmaster of Russian-Nepalese origin, has been among the world's top 10 players for many years. By winning the 2025 Grand Swiss, he earned the right to participate in the Candidates Tournament. He earned the grandmaster title at age 14.
Strengths: Exceptional defensive skill, deep opening knowledge, positional subtlety. His ability to secure draws especially with the black pieces is a weapon that troubles his opponents.
Candidates history: He participated in the 2016, 2020-21, and 2024 Candidates Tournaments. He became known in past tournaments for his high draw rate, but in recent times he has adopted a more aggressive style.
4. Praggnanandhaa R. ð®ð³
Praggnanandhaa, the youngest candidate in the tournament, is India's rising star. At 12 years 10 months, he became an international master, and then the second-youngest grandmaster in history. He surprised the whole world by reaching the final of the 2023 World Cup.
Strengths: Incredible tactical vision, the energy of youth, and a bold playing style. He finds creative solutions in complex positions.
Candidates history: He participated in the 2024 Candidates Tournament. Playing in the Candidates for the second time at age 20 shows the greatness of his talent.
5. Wei Yi ð¨ð³
Chinese young star Wei Yi was once referred to as the "new Bobby Fischer". At age 15, he became the youngest player to surpass a 2700 rating. His victory over Laznicka in 2015, described as "the most beautiful game of the 21st century," became legendary.
Strengths: Creative and aggressive playing style, tactical depth, major tournament experience despite his young age.
Candidates history: He is participating in the Candidates Tournament for the first time. He earned this right by finishing second in the World Cup.
6. Javokhir Sindarov ðºð¿
Another young star of the tournament, Sindarov is the latest rising name from the Uzbek chess school. He played a key role in Uzbekistan winning the gold medal at the 2022 Chess Olympiad. By winning the 2025 World Cup, he earned direct qualification to the Candidates.
Strengths: Strong tactical calculation, tournament endurance, composure in critical moments.
Candidates history: He is participating in the Candidates Tournament for the first time. He has the honor of being the first player from Uzbekistan to participate in this tournament.
7. Andrey Esipenko ð³ï¸ (FIDE)
Esipenko made history in 2021 as the youngest player to defeat Magnus Carlsen in classical chess while still only 18 years old. The Russian-born grandmaster competing under the FIDE flag earned qualification for the Candidates by finishing third in the World Cup.
Strengths: Bold and aggressive playing style, superior calculating power in complex positions, an unflinching attitude against big names.
Candidates history: He is participating in the Candidates Tournament for the first time.
8. Matthias Bluebaum ð©ðª
Bluebaum, the rising star of German chess, caused a major surprise by finishing second in the 2025 Grand Swiss and earned the right to participate in the Candidates. He achieved the distinction of becoming the first player from Germany in a long time to participate in the Candidates Tournament.
Strengths: Solid positional play, patient strategy, consistency under pressure.
Candidates history: He is participating in the Candidates Tournament for the first time.
id="schedule">Round-by-Round Schedule
The tournament is scheduled to have 14 rounds and 4 rest days. All rounds start at 16:30 local time (16:30 Turkey time).
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 28 March (Saturday) | ð Opening Ceremony |
| 29 March (Sunday) | âï¸ Round 1 |
| 30 March (Monday) | âï¸ Round 2 |
| 31 March (Tuesday) | âï¸ Round 3 |
| 1 April (Wednesday) | âï¸ Round 4 |
| 2 April (Thursday) | ð´ Rest Day |
| 3 April (Friday) | âï¸ Round 5 |
| 4 April (Saturday) | âï¸ Round 6 |
| 5 April (Sunday) | âï¸ Round 7 (End of first half) |
| 6 April (Monday) | ð´ Rest Day |
| 7 April (Tuesday) | âï¸ Round 8 |
| 8 April (Wednesday) | âï¸ Round 9 |
| 9 April (Thursday) | âï¸ Round 10 |
| 10 April (Friday) | ð´ Rest Day |
| 11 April (Saturday) | âï¸ Round 11 |
| 12 April (Sunday) | âï¸ Round 12 |
| 13 April (Monday) | ð´ Rest Day |
| 14 April (Tuesday) | âï¸ Round 13 |
| 15 April (Wednesday) | âï¸ Round 14 (Final round) |
| 16 April (Thursday) | ð Tiebreak Matches and Closing Ceremony |
Prize Fund
The FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 has a total prize fund of â¬1,000,000:
Women's Candidates Tournament
At the same time as the Open section, the Women's Candidates Tournament is also being held in Paphos. The same format (double round-robin, 14 rounds) will be used. The winner of the women's section will earn the right to play in the Women's World Championship match.
How to Watch?
You can watch the tournament live starting from 16:30 Turkey time:
- Official FIDE Website: candidates2026.fide.com
- Chess.com: Live broadcast and GM commentary
- Lichess.org: Free live broadcast
- FIDE Chess: Official broadcast
- ChessBase India: Hindi/English commentary
- Agadmator: Game analyses
Favorites Analysis
There is no clear favorite in this tournament â and that is the most important factor increasing the excitement. However, some contenders stand out:
| Contender | Advantage | Disadvantage |
|---|---|---|
| Caruana | The most experienced contender, proven strength in the classical format | Fatigue from many Candidates tournaments |
| Nakamura | Qualified by rating, experience of finishing second in 2024 | Age 38, energy and endurance are question marks |
| Praggnanandhaa | Youthful energy, World Cup final experience | Consistency in the classical format has not yet been proven |
| Giri | Grand Swiss champion, excellent form | Winless rounds in previous Candidates tournaments |
| Sindarov | World Cup champion, momentum | First Candidates experience, pressure factor |
| Wei Yi | Creative playing style, tactical genius | Lack of super-tournament appearances in recent years |
| Esipenko | The courage of having beaten Carlsen, aggressive style | Problem of support team under the FIDE flag |
| Bluebaum | Surprise factor, less familiarity from opponents | Lower rating compared to the other contenders |
History of the Candidates Tournament
The Candidates Tournament was first organized in 1950. Since then, some of the most exciting games in chess history have been played in this tournament.
Recent Candidates Tournament Winners
| Year | Location | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Toronto, Canada | ð®ð³ D. Gukesh |
| 2022 | Madrid, Spain | ð·ðº Ian Nepomniachtchi |
| 2020-21 | Yekaterinburg, Russia | ð·ðº Ian Nepomniachtchi |
| 2018 | Berlin, Germany | ðºð¸ Fabiano Caruana |
| 2016 | Moscow, Russia | ðºð¸ Sergey Karjakin |
| 2014 | Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia | ð®ð³ Viswanathan Anand |
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Candidates Tournament start?
The FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 begins with the opening ceremony on March 28, 2026. The first round will be played on March 29. The tournament will end on April 16, 2026.
Where is the tournament being held?
The tournament is being held in Paphos, Cyprus, at the Cap St Georges Hotel and Resort. The five-star coastal resort brings together the playing hall, accommodation, and preparation areas.
What does the winner of the Candidates Tournament earn?
The winner earns the right to play a title match against the current World Chess Champion. This is one of the greatest opportunities a chess player can reach in their career. In addition, the tournamentâs total prize fund is â¬700,000.
Who is the current World Champion?
D. Gukesh (India) became the youngest World Chess Champion in history by defeating Ding Liren in 2024. The winner of the Candidates Tournament will face Gukesh.
Is there a time difference for watching from Turkey?
Cyprus is in the same time zone as Turkey (UTC+3). The rounds start at 16:30, so there is no time difference issue for viewers from Turkey.
Can I watch the tournament for free?
Yes! You can watch the games live and for free on Lichess.org and Chess.com. Many channels on YouTube also provide live commentary.
What does a double round-robin league format mean?
Each player faces the other 7 opponents 2 times â once with the white pieces, once with the black pieces. In total, 14 rounds are played. Thanks to this format, the element of chance is minimized and the strongest player stands out.