History of the Candidates: From Budapest (1950) to Cyprus (2026)
The Candidates Tournament, the final test that a player must pass to challenge the World Champion in chess, has a rich history dating back to 1950. This event emerged as a response to the need for a systematic approach to determine a world championship challenger. Prior to 1950, contenders had to navigate a maze of negotiations directly with the champion, secure funding, and organise a match – a process that lacked structure and consistency. The turning point came in 1950 when Budapest hosted the inaugural Candidates Tournament, a 10-player double round-robin to select the Challenger for the then World Champion, Mikhail Botvinnik. This tradition, set in Budapest, continued almost every third year until 1993, alternating between tournaments and matches. However, the early 1990s saw a disruption due to the split in the world championship structure. The Candidates Tournament returned to prominence in 2007 as part of the unified cycle, initially in the form of matches. The modern-day era has witnessed notable tournaments in London (2013), Khanty-Mansiysk (2014), Moscow (2016), Berlin (2018), Yekaterinburg (2020-2021), Madrid (2022) and Toronto (2024), each contributing to the great history of the championship qualification process. Cyprus now writes the next chapter in this distinguished lineage. The Inaugural Tournament in Budapest (1950) The inaugural Candidates Tournament was held in Budapest from April 11 to May 18, 1950. It was a double round-robin with ten contenders—Bronstein, Boleslavsky, Smyslov, Keres, Najdorf, Kotov, Stahlberg, Lilienthal, Szabo, and Flohr. The event in Budapest became the only Candidates Tournament to end in a tie for first place with no tiebreaker in place. Bronstein and Boleslavsky had to play a playoff match held in Moscow in the summer of 1950. It ended in another tie, but Bronstein won the first decisive game and became the official Challenger. He drew a match with Botvinnik, who retained his title, as an equal score favoured the champion at the time. The Memorable Second Candidates (1953) The second Candidates stands out as one of the most famous chess tournaments ever, thanks to the timeless popularity of excellent tournament books by participants David Bronstein and Miguel Najdorf. The tournament was a massive affair – a double round-robin with 15 contestants, meaning each participant played 28 games. The superb lineup contributed to the rich chess heritage of this event: Smyslov, Bronstein, Keres, Reshevsky, Petrosian, Geller, Najdorf, Kotov, Taimanov, Averbakh, Boleslavsky, Szabo, Gligoric, Euwe, Stahlberg (named in order of final standings). The clear winner, Vasily Smyslov, went on to draw his first match with Botvinnik, who, therefore, retained the title. Amsterdam 1956 and the Success of Vasily Smyslov Photo: GaHetNa (Nationaal Archief NL) The 1956 Candidates Tournament in Amsterdam showcased the remarkable success of Vasily Smyslov, who secured victory for the second consecutive time. Finishing 1.5 points above the field of 10 players, he lost only one game – to 19-year-old debutant Boris Spassky. Having reached his prime form, the next year, Smyslov beat Botvinnik 12½-9½ in the match for the title and became the 7th World Chess Champion. Yugoslavia 1959 – A Chess Odyssey After winning the rematch against Smyslov 12½–10½ in 1958, Botvinnik was again the World Champion and awaited a new Challenger. In 1959, Yugoslavia hosted the Candidates Tournament, narrowing down to eight participants. In a quadruple round-robin, meaning each player meeting every opponent four times, 28 games were played in total. Three cities in Yugoslavia hosted the event, with the first half played in Bled and then moving to Zagreb and finally Belgrade. Despite the disastrous result against Keres (1-3), the young 22-year-old debutant Mikhail Tal swept through the rest of the field – Petrosian, Smyslov, Gligoric, the other remarkable newcomer 16-year-old Fischer, Olafsson and Benko. Half a year later, “the magician from Riga” took the title from Botvinnik, defeating the Soviet chess Patriarch 12½–8½. Curacao 1962 – The Caribbean Challenge And again, the World Champion was Mikhail Botvinnik. Like Smyslov, Tal held the title only for a year before handing it back to the Patriarch, who won the rematch 13-8. The next Challenger for the resilient and ever-resourceful but ageing 50-year-old Botvinnik was to be determined in the Caribbean. The eight-player quadruple round-robin format stood another test – Petrosian, Geller, Keres, Fischer, Korchnoi, Benko, Tal and Filip were to stay on the tropical island for two months. Tal’s deteriorating health did not let him finish the event, and he withdrew after 21 rounds. At the height of the Cold War, all eyes were on the performance of 19-year-old Bobby Fischer, but he was not yet ready to stand up against the Soviet chess machine, especially when its players had the benefit of making short draws between each other. Tigran Petrosian won the tournament without losing a single game and went on to become the 9th World Champion. 1965-1968 – The Era of Matches The Candidates Matches of 1965 and 1968 were the golden era of Boris Spassky, who won both events. In their first match, Tigran Petrosian held his title by one point, 12½–11½, but in the second encounter, three years later, he was defeated by the younger opponent (Spassky was eight years his junior) 12½–10½. 1971 – Fischer’s Dominance The next cycle went into the history of chess as Robert (Bobby) Fischer’s crescendo of dominant victories, culminating in the famous 1972 Reykjavik Spassky-Fischer face-off, dubbed the Match of the Century. Fischer’s remarkable victories in the Candidates matches, beating Taimanov 6–0, Larsen 6–0, and Petrosian 6½–2½, paved the way for him to face Spassky. In the World Championship Match, he dethroned Spassky with 12½–8½ and became the 11th World Chess Champion. 1977 – 1984 – Anatoly Karpov’s Era In the decade following the Match of the Century, Anatoly Karpov gathered momentum and turned into the chess scene’s leading actor, winning the Candidate Matches 1974 and becoming the 12th World Champion following Fischer’s withdrawal. His historic battles with Victor Korchnoi, winner of the 1977-78 and 1980 Candidate Matches, and later with Garry Kasparov, winner of the 1983-84 Candidate Matches, are some of the 20th-century chess saga’s
Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort becomes an official FIDE Partner for the 2026 Candidates
The luxurious Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort in Cyprus has signed an agreement with the International Chess Federation (FIDE) to become the Official Partner for the 2026 Candidates tournaments taking place this March and April in Cyprus. Cyprus and the award-winning Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort were selected by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) as the ideal destination meeting the most stringent international standards for hosting an event of global historical significance. This selection represents the highest level of international recognition and a clear affirmation of the prestige, credibility, and organizational excellence required for the world’s premier chess event. As the Official Partner of the Tournament in the area of hotel services, Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort will be featured throughout FIDE’s global broadcast and event branding. “One of the most important tasks of FIDE is to provide the players with the best possible conditions so they can focus on the tournament,” FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky said. “During my first visit to Cap St.George, I was impressed with the grandeur of the hotel and resort, its facilities and amenities. Throughout two months of preparation, and now, after the second visit, FIDE organizing team and I witnessed a dedicated and very professional approach from the hosts. I am sure the players, their teams and everyone attending will have a great experience at FIDE Candidates in Cyprus.” George Ioannou, the owner and CEO of Cap St Georges, said the FIDE Candidates aligns with the resort’s commitment to hosting world-class events. “We are passionate about providing a wonderful experience for our guests and visitors, while at the same time contributing to the local community. Hosting the most prestigious chess tournament in the world reflects our dedication to excellence and our goal of making Paphos a premier destination for global events.” The 2026 Candidates tournaments will take place between 28 March and 16 April in Pegeia (also known as Peiya), near Paphos, Cyprus, and feature a record €1,000,000 prize fund. The event will see eight players in the Open and eight in the Women’s tournament, playing in a round-robin format to determine the challengers for the World Chess Championship title. Regulations for the FIDE Candidates 2026 can be found below: Open – handbook.fide.com/files/handbook/Regulations_for_the_FIDE_Candidates_Tournament_2026.pdf Women’s – handbook.fide.com/files/handbook/WomenCandidatesRegulations2026.pdf Tickets are available here: tickets.fide.com/ FIDE Candidates 2026 official website: candidates2026.fide.com/ About Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort: Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort: An Award-Winning Luxury Destination at Cape St George Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort is an award-winning luxury destination located at Cape St George, along the picturesque coastline of Pegeia, in Paphos, Cyprus. Set in a remarkable natural setting, the resort offers an inspiring environment where elegance, tranquillity and excellence come together with the area’s rich history and local culture, creating a truly distinctive experience for every guest. Visitors enjoy access to an impressive range of facilities, including the pristine Olive Tree Beach and Kafizis Beach, outdoor and heated indoor swimming pools, a spa and wellness centre, and fully equipped sports facilities. The resort also features a collection of ten restaurants and bars, offering refined international flavours alongside authentic local cuisine. Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort attracts both international visitors and permanent residents, offering a diverse range of experiences that balance relaxation, entertainment and cultural discovery. Surrounded by unspoiled natural landscapes and complemented by modern infrastructure, the resort provides an elegant and comfortable setting for unforgettable moments as well as high-profile events. For more information, visit: capstgeorges.com/