Name: FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026
Start: 2026-03-28
End: 2026-04-16
Location: Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort

Question 1

Why is Magnus Carlsen Not in the 2026 Candidates Tournament?

Accepted Answer

If this is the biggest tournament in chess, why isn't the highest-rated player in history competing? Magnus Carlsen voluntarily stepped away from the World Championship cycle after his 2021 title defense, stating he no longer enjoys the grueling, months-long preparation required for classical matches. He officially declined his invitation to the 2026 Candidates, failing to meet the 40-game classical requirement and actively criticizing FIDE’s "cruel" qualification rules. While Magnus dominates rapid and blitz formats, he has left the classical crown up for grabs. The 2026 Candidates is the ultimate battle to see who steps into the vacuum he left behind.

Question 2

What is the FIDE Candidates Tournament?

Accepted Answer

The FIDE Candidates Tournament is an elite eight-player double round-robin event that determines who will challenge the reigning World Chess Champion. It is widely considered the most grueling and prestigious qualifying event in chess, requiring 14 rounds of classical games over three weeks.

Question 3

Who will win the 2026 Candidates?

Accepted Answer

Fabiano Caruana enters as many analysts' top pick, given his fifth appearance and recent 7/9 warm-up in Saint Louis. Hikaru Nakamura's 2810 rating makes him a serious contender, while dark horse picks include Javokhir Sindarov (World Cup champion at 20) and Praggnanandhaa R (Tata Steel champion). Our model and fan votes on this page track the live sentiment.

Question 4

What happens if there is a tie at the Candidates?

Accepted Answer

If two or more players finish with the same score, tiebreaks are applied in order: head-to-head results, Sonneborn-Berger score, total wins, then wins with Black. If players are still tied after all criteria, rapid and blitz tiebreak games are played to determine the winner.

Question 5

Who is the youngest player in the 2026 Candidates?

Accepted Answer

Javokhir Sindarov of Uzbekistan is the youngest player in the Open section at 20 years old. In the Women's Candidates, Divya Deshmukh of India is the youngest contender. Both qualified through winning the 2025 World Cup in their respective sections.

Question 6

How does the double round-robin format work?

Accepted Answer

Each player faces every other player twice: once with the White pieces and once with the Black pieces. This means each player plays 14 games over the course of the tournament. A win earns 1 point, a draw earns 0.5 points, and a loss earns 0 points. The player with the most points at the end wins the tournament.

Question 7

FIDE Candidates 2026 Schedule and Standings

Accepted Answer

The 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament and Women's Candidates Tournament run from March 28 to April 16, 2026 at Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort in Paphos, Cyprus. Both events feature 8 players each in a 14-round double round-robin format. Rest days are scheduled after rounds 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11. Check the official FIDE site for daily pairings and live standings.

Placement	Prize
1st	€70,000
2nd	€45,000
3rd	€25,000
Per ½ point	€5,000

Year	Champion	Runner-Up
2024	Gukesh Dommaraju	Hikaru Nakamura
2022	Ian Nepomniachtchi	Ding Liren
2020-21	Ian Nepomniachtchi	Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
2018	Fabiano Caruana	Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
2016	Sergey Karjakin	Fabiano Caruana
2014	Viswanathan Anand	Sergey Karjakin
2013	Magnus Carlsen	Vladimir Kramnik

FIDE Candidates 2026

Who Will Win the 2026 Chess Candidates?

Nakamura

Caruana

Yi

Giri

Sindarov

R

Bluebaum

Esipenko

Women's Candidates

Jiner

Goryachkina

Deshmukh

Humpy

Zhongyi

Rameshbabu

Lagno

Assaubayeva

Rank the Candidates

Rank the Candidates

Tournament Details

Format

Time Control

Prize Fund

Prize Distribution

Previous Champions

Official Schedule

Frequently Asked Questions