New Delhi: The stage is set for the next World Chess Championship, as the line-ups for the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournaments have been confirmed following the completion of the qualification cycle. After its first North American edition in 2024, the tournament returns to Europe, with Cyprus selected as the host. Both events will take place at the luxurious Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort near Paphos.
The Open Candidates Tournament promises an exciting mix of established grandmasters and emerging talents, determined by results across the 2024–25 FIDE Circuit, the 2025 World Cup, the 2025 Grand Swiss, and rating-based qualifications. The confirmed roster includes Fabiano Caruana, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, Anish Giri, Matthias Blübaum, Javokhir Sindarov, Wei Yi, and Andrey Esipenko. The final spot goes to Hikaru Nakamura, who secured qualification through the highest average classical rating during the cycle. This diverse lineup, blending experience and youthful ambition, sets the stage for intense competition.
The Women’s Candidates Tournament will feature Zhu Jiner and Aleksandra Goryachkina, who qualified via the Women’s Grand Prix. Divya Deshmukh, Humpy Koneru, and Tan Zhongyi earned their spots through the 2025 Women’s World Cup. Vaishali Rameshbabu and Kateryna Lagno qualified via the Grand Swiss, while Bibisara Assaubayeva completed the field through the Women’s Events qualification pathway.
Both tournaments will follow a double round-robin format over 14 rounds with classical time controls, and early draws will not be allowed. The €1,000,000 prize fund adds significant stakes to the competition. If players finish tied at the top, a playoff will determine who will earn the opportunity to challenge for the World Championship titles in November 2026.
With top-tier competitors from around the globe converging in Cyprus, the 2026 Candidates Tournaments are shaping up to be a thrilling prelude to the next battle for chess supremacy.
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