FIDE Candidates 2026: Eight contenders, one dream
Chess elite face off in a high-stakes quest to become the next challenger The pieces are in position in Paphos, Cyprus, where the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 will soon determine the challenger for the World Chess Championship. Over fourteen gruelling 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: winning 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. With elite GM commentators Jan Gustafsson and Peter Svidler calling the action, one thing is certain: in Cyprus, every move will matter. Let’s take a closer look at the contenders, sorted by their current March 2026 FIDE Ratings. Hikaru Nakamura (USA, 2810) A five-time U.S. Champion and one of the most recognizable figures in modern chess, Nakamura qualified to the Candidates through the rating spot, with the highest average classical rating over the course of the qualification period. Although entirely compliant with regulations, his performance didn’t come without some public controversy, as he secured the minimum number of games against lower rated opponents. Currently ranked number two in the world, his recent fame has been more due to his online presence, but Nakamura has demonstrated remarkable resilience throughout his career, spanning elite classical tournaments, world championships cycles, and countless rapid and blitz titles. His achievements include gold medal at the 2016 Chess Olympiad, winning Tata Steel in 2011 and Norway Chess in 2023, along with multiple Grand Chess Tour events. He is widely considered one of the strongest rapid and blitz players in history, winning the 2022 World Rapid and achieving several podium finishes in the World Blitz. Online he is one of the most followed chess streamers globally and a popular ambassador for the game on internet platforms like Twitch and YouTube. With multiple appearances in the Candidates few players handle pressure better than Nakamura. If Hikaru finds early momentum, he could become a serious contender for first place. Fabiano Caruana (USA, 2795) Qualified by winning the 2024 FIDE Circuit, a season-long competition rewarding elite tournament performances, Fabiano will make his fifth appearance at the Candidates. Currently holding the world’s number three rating position, Caruana has been a staple in the fight for the world title for over a decade and is renowned for his deep opening preparation and extraordinary calculation. The American grandmaster won the Candidates tournament in Berlin (2018), challenging Magnus Carlsen in London for the World Championship, eventually losing in one of the most evenly fought championship matches in history. Other tournament successes include the Grenke International in 2015, Norway Chess 2018 and Tata Steel in 2020. His most significant tournament win was in 2014 at the Sinquefield Cup where he scored 8.5 out of 10 against world class competition, with an extraordinary 7/7 start! He is also a five-time USA champion, gold medallist at the 2016 Olympiad and holder of several Grand Chess Tour titles. As part of his preparation for the event, Fabiano has just finished two events in Saint Louis, including a promising 7/9 score in the Saint Louis Masters. Caruana is widely regarded as one of the strongest players of the 21st century and one of the most formidable challengers to the world championship crown. Many analysts consider Caruana the natural favourite and, if experience counts for anything in the Candidates, he has plenty of it! Wei Yi (China, 2754) Ranked number seven in the world, China’s top player qualified as the 2025 Goa World Cup finalist. This will be his first Candidates appearance. For many years, Wei Yi was widely regarded as the greatest chess prodigy since Magnus Carlsen. The Chinese grandmaster burst onto the world stage as a teenager with extraordinary tactical brilliance and fearless attacking play. Wei still holds the record for being the youngest ever player to cross 2700, when he was 15 years old! The Chinese grandmaster has produced some of the most spectacular games of the modern era. One of the fan favorites, and possibly one of the best king-hunts in history, is his 2015 victory over GM Lazaro Bruzon. See the game [HERE] Winner of multiple elite and invitational tournaments in China and internationally, Wei Yi has also played a key role in China’s gold-winning team at the Chess Olympiad (2014) and the World Team Chess Championship (2015). Wei Yi combines deep calculation, tactical creativity, and fearless attacking instincts. When the position becomes sharp, he is capable of producing brilliant sacrifices and spectacular combinations. If the tournament turns sharp and tactical, Wei Yi could be one of the most dangerous players in the field. Anish Giri (Netherlands, 2753) Qualifying by winning the 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss in Samarkand, Cyprus Giri will take part in the Candidates for the third time in his career. One of the most consistent elite players of the last decade, he has been a fixture among the world’s top grandmasters since his teenage years and a regular participant in the World Championship cycle, famously drawing all fourteen games of his 2016 Candidates Tournament games. Contrary, in the 2020-21 Candidates, he fought for first place until the final rounds. With many international tournament victories to his name, Giri has been the cornerstone of the Dutch national team for many years, winning a bronze medal at the Chess Olympiad 2014, alongside a number of strong individual performances on board one at other Olympiad and European team competitions. Currently number eight in the world, Giri is famous for
FIDE Chess for Freedom program leader visits Georgia
During his recent trip to Georgia, Mikhail Korenman, the FIDE project leader for Chess for Freedom program, visited to Head office of Special Penitentiary Service, Ministry of Justice of Georgia. He discussed the project development in Georgia with Inga Sarjveladze, Director of Resocialization rehabilitation department and Nana Koridze, Deputy Director of Resocialization Rehabilitation Department, and Vasil Liparteliani, Chess for Freedom project coordinator for Georgia. The Chess for Freedom program is part of the large scale social and rehabilitation activities at the women’s prison directed by Nestan Verulashvili. The special guests of the event at the women’s prison were Minister of Justice of Georgia Paata Salia, Member of Parliament of Georgia Nino Tsilosani, and the First Lady of Georgia Tamar Bagrationi. The director of the men’s prison #16, Zaza Jamatashvili, presented all resocialization and rehabilitation programs. Mikhail Korenman also met the members of the Georgian male chess team. The first online tournament bringing together men, women, and youth teams playing in one mixed group was organized on March 5 on the chess.com platform and directed by the IA Nebojsa Baralic. Eight teams from Georgia, England, and Latvia participated in this first-of-its-kind event, combining all three Chess for Freedom program categories – Men, Women, and Youth – in a single pool. The Georgia Men’s team claimed the title, winning all four matches (total 8 points). England Men, England Youth, and Latvian teams tied for second place with 5 match points each. A strong finish by the Georgia Women team (top Female team) and England Youth team (top Youth team) validated the initial concept that all three participant groups can compete in this mixed format. The event also featured an additional session where all teams competed in a draughts tournament organized by the US NDF and directed by the IA Andriy Shetbatyuk. The Latvian team won all three rounds with came out on top with a perfect score, Georgian Women and Youth teams shared second place with four points. In the combined results of the event, the Latvian male team from Jelgava prison, led by the coach IM Sergejs Klimakovs, secured the overall first place with a total score of 11 points. The Georgia men’s team finished second (total 10 points), while the Georgia women’s team completed the podium with 7 points.
FIDE EDU Classroom Contest announced
As 2026 is celebrated as the Year of Chess in Education, the FIDE Chess in Education Commission is pleased to highlight schools worldwide that use chess classrooms as hubs for personal growth and social development. We are proud to announce the 2026 FIDE EDU Classroom Contest! Send us pictures of your chess classroom in action for a chance to win some great prizes: 1st prize – Social media post by FIDE promoting your school program, free entry on a FIDE School Award application, and one free entry for the Preparation of Teacher’s course, and one free annual subscription to LogiqBoard. 2nd prize – Social media post by FIDE promoting your school program, free entry on a FIDE School Award application, 50% discount on a Preparation of Teacher’s course, and a 50% discount on an annual LogiqBoard subscription. 3rd prize – Social media post by FIDE promoting your school program, 50% discount on a FIDE School Award application, 25% discount on a Preparation of Teachers course, and a 25% discount on an annual LogiqBoard subscription. Entries will be judged on classroom engagement, creativity of classroom activities, the use of chess as an educational tool, and the ability of chess to bring people together. If a picture is worth a thousand words, we seek classrooms that speak for themselves in showing the power of chess to transform lives. The size of the school or chess club does not matter! Whether you are large institution or grassroots initiative, a school chess club is a place where students come together, play, socialize, learn, and build skills and relationships that will last a lifetime. Show us your classroom so we can show it to the world! Send photos to abel@riseforthekids.org. Each school may submit up to three photos of their chess classroom; photo must be under 500kB. Please include the name of your school, city, country, and the name of the chess teacher, coach, or school coordinator. We are eager to see the differences between chess classrooms around the world but also discover the common thread that makes us alike. The deadline for submissions is April 30, 2026. Winners will be announced May 8, 2026.