The chess world is eagerly anticipating the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament, a crucial event in the World Championship cycle. This year's tournament holds special significance for Indian chess fans, as it will feature the participation of four Indian players, a historic first.

The Candidates Tournament is scheduled to take place from March 28 to April 16, 2026. The prestigious tournament will be held at the luxurious Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort, located near Paphos on the south-western coast of Cyprus. This marks the first time Cyprus will host this iconic event. Alongside the Candidates Tournament, the FIDE Women's Candidates Tournament will also be held at the same venue.

The winner of the Candidates Tournament earns the right to challenge the reigning World Champion, Gukesh Dommaraju, for the title in a match set to take place in November 2026.

The confirmed participants include Anish Giri, Fabiano Caruana, Matthias Blübaum, Javokhir Sindarov, Wei Yi, Andrey Esipenko, and R Praggnanandhaa. The final spot will be awarded based on the highest average FIDE rating from August 2025 to January 2026.

R Praggnanandhaa has secured his spot in the Candidates Tournament after winning the FIDE Circuit 2025. He is the only Indian in the men's category. Praggnanandhaa secured his qualification after his performance in the eight-player London Chess Classic. He came joint-first, along with Velimir Ivic and Ameet K Ghasi, and then ended in third position after tie-breaks. At the FIDE Circuit 2025, Praggnanandhaa registered 115.17 points, 34 points ahead of Dutch GM Anish Giri.

Adding to the excitement, three Indian women chess players have also qualified for the Women's Candidates Tournament: Divya Deshmukh, Koneru Humpy, and R Vaishali. This remarkable achievement underscores the growing strength and depth of Indian chess on the global stage.

The tournament format will be a double round-robin, meaning each player will face the others twice, once with the white pieces and once with the black pieces, totaling 14 rounds.

The time control for the games will be 120 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with a 30-second increment per move starting from move 41. Players are not permitted to agree to a draw before Black's 40th move.

The minimum prize fund for the event is a record one million euros. In the event of a tie for first place after 14 rounds, a playoff will be played to determine the winner.

The 2026 Candidates Tournament promises intense battles and unforgettable moments as these elite players vie for the chance to challenge for the World Championship title.