Your guide to the action 🗓♟ The full schedule for the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 is here! Get ready for top-level chess as the players battle it out round by round. All rounds start at 15:30 (UTC+3, Cyprus local time) — make sure to tune in so you don’t miss a move!

Where it all began 🌍♟️ From different corners of the world, eight players come together for the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 — each with a unique journey that started in their place of birth. Let us know in the comments which player you’re supporting! 👇 Here’s what you

Your guide to the action 🗓♟ The full schedule for the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 is here! Get ready for top-level chess as the players battle it out round by round. All rounds start at 15:30 (UTC+3, Cyprus local time) — make sure to tune in so you don’t miss a move!

♟️ History of the Candidates: from Budapest (1950) to Cyprus (2026). 🔸 Toronto 2024 – Triumphs by Gukesh D and Tan Zhongyi Toronto hosted a historic double-header: the first time the FIDE Candidates Tournament and FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament were held concurrently, and

👉 Introducing Divya Deshmukh 🇮🇳 ♟️ Women's #FIDECandidates 2026 Qualification path: 2025 Women's World Cup 1st @DivyaDeshmukh05 arrives as one of the youngest contenders in the field, but already with a resume that reads well beyond her years. Her transition from junior star

🇨🇾 Cyprus. Safety & Logistics FAQ ❓ Q: Is it safe to travel to and stay in Cyprus given the current situation in the Middle East region? 💬 A: Yes. Cyprus is a safe country to travel. There is no emergency situation, and the country continues to operate normally. The Organising

Update on the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026 Pairings Humpy Koneru has officially withdrawn, and Anna Muzychuk will join the tournament as her replacement. According to Article 4.5.3 of the Tournament Regulations, “the pairings shall remain the same, except that the

♟ Ian Nepomniachtchi wins convincingly 🔥 Magnus Carlsen hinted — and later confirmed — that he wouldn’t defend his World Championship title. As a result, at the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2022, second place mattered almost as much as first. Nepomniachtchi secured first place

👉 Introducing Praggnanandhaa R 🇮🇳 ♟️ #FIDECandidates 2026 Qualification path: 2025 FIDE Circuit winner @rpraggnachess's rise from prodigy to elite contender has unfolded at remarkable speed. He first captured global attention at the 2023 FIDE World Cup, where he reached the

They were just kids once too ♟️🥹 Now, they’re fighting to become the Challenger for the World Championship. Every journey starts somewhere. Here’s what you need to know about the 2026 edition: 🗓 Dates: March 28–April 16 🌍 Location: @capstgeorgeshotelresort, Cyprus 🇨🇾 📷

Vasily Smyslov, the 7th World Champion (1957–1958), was born on this day in 1921. An eight-time Candidates participant (1948–1985), Olympic medal record holder, and endgame virtuoso, he was also an accomplished baritone singer.

Latin America’s long game in chess ♟️ Latin America is trying to do something different in chess. Instead of spending money on new grand tournaments and spectacles for the elite, it is investing in chess as an educational tool, banking on a wider social impact reaching well

♟️ History of the Candidates: from Budapest (1950) to Cyprus (2026). 🔸 Madrid 2022 – The Second Coming of Ian Nepomniachtchi This event stood out because the second place mattered almost equally as the first. Magnus Carlsen hinted (which he later confirmed) that he would not

♟️ History of the Candidates: from Budapest (1950) to Cyprus (2026). 🔸 Madrid 2022 – The Second Coming of Ian Nepomniachtchi This event stood out because the second place mattered almost equally as the first. Magnus Carlsen hinted (which he later confirmed) that he would not

♟ Would Magnus Carlsen be the favorite to win the FIDE Candidates Tournament? 👀 Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, one of the world’s top players, shares his thoughts on who his favorite is — and how strong his chances are. 🎥 Watch the full interview on YouTube! 👉

In memory of Viktor Korchnoi on the 95th anniversary of his birth Viktor Lvovich Korchnoi would have turned 95 today. He is one of those monumental figures one returns to time and again when writing about chess. What would most people know about Korchnoi nowadays? A strong

Introducing: Istituto Comprensivo Mazzarella ♟️ 📍 Benevento, Italy 🇮🇹 ✨ A small town in the province of Benevento in Southern Italy is learning the benefits of including chess in its education system. At Istituto Comprensivo Mazzarella in Cerreto Sannita, a government

Viktor Korchnoi, one of the strongest chess players to never become world champion, was born on this day in 1931. A candidate on ten occasions and a challenger twice, Korchnoi was one of the brightest personalities in the history of chess. 📷: Dutch National Archives (ANeFo)

❗️Humpy Koneru withdraws from FIDE Women’s Candidates 2026; Anna Muzychuk steps in 🇮🇳 Humpy Koneru (India) has officially withdrawn from the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026, scheduled to take place in 🇨🇾 Cyprus from March 28 to April 16. In accordance with the

❗️Humpy Koneru withdraws from FIDE Women’s Candidates 2026; Anna Muzychuk steps in 🇮🇳 Koneru Humpy (India) has officially withdrawn from the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026, scheduled to take place in 🇨🇾 Cyprus from March 28 to April 16. In accordance with the

❗️Koneru Humpy Withdraws from FIDE Women’s Candidates 2026; Anna Muzychuk replaces 🇮🇳 Koneru Humpy (India) has officially withdrawn from the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026, scheduled to take place in 🇨🇾 Cyprus from March 28 to April 16. In accordance with the

♟ Brilliancy by Nepo 🔥 At the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2020–21, Ian Nepomniachtchi found many aggressive variations, and thanks to them, he won the event. In this Round 5 game, Nepo played one such move. 🎯 Do you see it? Here’s what you need to know about the 2026

♟️ History of the Candidates: from Budapest (1950) to Cyprus (2026). 🔸 2020-2021 – The Pandemic-Interrupted Candidates It took more than a year for eight grandmasters to figure out the next contender for the world title. Split in half, this tournament became the

Happy 24th birthday to Andrey Esipenko! 🎂🎉 A strong performance at the 2025 FIDE World Cup saw him finish 3rd and qualify for the upcoming #FIDECandidates Tournament! 🔥 All the best for the challenges ahead! ♟️ 📷 Michal Walusza

♟ Dana Reizniece: Treat chess as part of an education policy, not an extracurricular activity At the Chess in Education Summit in San José, Dana Reizniece, Deputy Chair of the FIDE Management Board, spoke about how campaigners should approach policy makers to get chess included

🇺🇸 Fabiano Caruana dominated the 2018 Candidates, clinching the Challenger’s spot with back-to-back wins in the final rounds. ♟️ Check out this interesting game against Levon Aronian, ending in a brilliant finish — did you get it right? Here’s what you need to know about the

👉 Introducing Fabiano Caruana 🇺🇸 ♟️ #FIDECandidates 2026 Qualification path: 2024 FIDE Circuit winner @FabianoCaruana enters the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament as one of the most established and battle-tested contenders in modern classical chess. He earned the right to

♟🇨🇷 How Costa Rica plans to bring chess into the classroom At the Chess and Education Summit in San Jose – taking place on 20 and 21 March – Costa Rican officials, educators and chess leaders set out a practical question: how can chess move from being respected as a game to

♟🌎 Latin America at the forefront of chess in education policy The Summit on Chess and Education, held in Costa Rica on 20 and 21 March, brought together experts from across Latin America to discuss how chess can support learning. In an article for the summit, FIDE President

♟ How important is luck in the FIDE Candidates Tournament? 👀 Boris Gelfand, winner of the 2011 FIDE Candidates, shares his thoughts on the role of luck in one of the toughest events in chess — and what it really takes to go all the way. 🎥 Watch the full interview on YouTube!

♟️ The road to the crown begins soon! The FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 is just one week away, with the world’s best players heading to Cyprus to fight for a shot at the world title. 📍 Venue: Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort 🧠 Expect top-level chess, expert commentary, and

♟️ FIDE World Cadets Cup U8-U12: Registration deadline approaching FIDE has launched a new youth competition cycle, and the FIDE World Cadets Cup U8–U12 is a key part of it — serving as a qualifying event for the World Cadets Championships. 📍 The first edition will take place

♟️ History of the Candidates: from Budapest (1950) to Cyprus (2026). 🔸 Berlin 2018 – A New American Hope Three years after the World Rapid and Blitz Championships in Berlin, chess returned to the German capital for the most important tournament of the year — the 2018 FIDE

Ask the Candidates! ♟️ Have a burning question for the FIDE Candidates Tournament players? Leave it in the comments – the most interesting ones will be selected for our player interviews! Which candidate would you ask, and what would you ask them? 🔽💬 Here’s what you need to

♟ Shift your perspective: FIDE Infinite Chess hosts “An Atypical Day” for autism awareness ✨ In celebration of International Autism Awareness Day, the FIDE Infinite Chess project invites you to an online event that goes beyond the board to explore the real lives of families

♟️ Serious chess interview… and then THIS happens 🐶😂 Featuring Peter Svidler — but let’s be honest, the real star stole the show 🐕 🎥 Watch the full interview on YouTube 👉 youtu.be/xNKEAdHuvkw Peter Svidler and Jan Gustafsson will be commentators at the 2026

♟ 🤝⚽️ Football superstar Erling Haaland is investing in Norway Chess and its new tour format, the Total Chess World Championship Tour. Haaland has ambitious plans to contribute to make chess a broader and more spectator-friendly sport. 🔗 Read more: fide.com/erling-haaland…

👉 Introducing Humpy Koneru 🇮🇳 ♟️ Women's #FIDECandidates 2026 Qualification path: 2025 Women's World Cup 2nd place Humpy Koneru stands as one of the defining figures of modern women’s chess, blending early prodigious talent with more than two decades at the top of the game.

♟ Levon Aronian shares his picks for the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 👀 One of the world’s top players gives his thoughts on who is his favorite — and what it takes to succeed at the highest level. 🎥 Watch the full interview on YouTube! 👉 youtu.be/_5mv0OJlxtg Who’s

♟ 10 days to go! Who will become the next challenger? 🔥 The FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 is almost here! Round 1 is set for March 29 🗓 Here’s what you need to know: 🌍 Location: Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort, Cyprus 🇨🇾 🎟 Book your tickets now: 🔗 tickets.fide.com

♟ Everything decided in one moment At the Candidates Tournament 2016, the final round came down to a direct clash between two players tied for first place - Sergey Karjakin and Fabiano Caruana. ❓ Can you find the best move and break Black’s defense? Here’s what you need to

♟️ History of the Candidates: from Budapest (1950) to Cyprus (2026). 🔸 Moscow 2016 – The Quest to Return the Crown to Russia The 2016 Candidates Tournament, held in the heart of the Russian capital, brought together Veselin Topalov, Vishy Anand, Levon Aronian, Sergey

🔥 The FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships 2026 heads to Hong Kong, returning with the format that has made it a fan favourite — mixed teams where elite professionals and recreational players compete side by side in rapid and blitz. ❗️Alongside the main

Wishing Vasyl Ivanchuk a very happy 57th birthday! 🎂🎊 A four-time Olympic champion and former World No. 2, as well as 2016 Rapid and 2007 Blitz World Champion, his creativity and love for chess continue to captivate chess fans around the world. 📷 Michal Walusza / FIDE

♟️ Back in 2014, Viswanathan Anand proved everyone wrong. Against all expectations, he stormed through the Candidates Tournament 2014 and earned another shot at the world title. Here’s what you need to know about the 2026 edition: 🗓 Dates: March 28–April 16 🌍 Location: Cap St

👉 Introducing Vaishali Rameshbabu 🇮🇳 ♟️ Women's #FIDECandidates 2026 Qualification path: 2025 FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss winner Vaishali Rameshbabu has built her career on endurance, composure, and an ability to deliver across large, demanding classical fields. A prolific

♟️ “If I were forced to pick, gun to my head, I’d pick...” Peter Svidler shares his take on the battle to decide the next world title challenger. Watch the full interview on FIDE’s YouTube channel! Here’s what you need to know about the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026: 🗓

♟️ Does Viswanathan Anand have a personal favorite in the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026? The 5-time World Champion shares his thoughts on the upcoming battle to decide the challenger for the world title. Watch the full interview on FIDE’s YouTube channel! Here’s what you need

♟️ Does Viswanathan Anand have a personal favorite in the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026? The 5-time World Champion shares his thoughts on the upcoming battle to decide the challenger for the world title. Watch the full interview on FIDE’s YouTube channel! Here’s what you need

Introducing: Ozel Cakabey Okullari ♟️ 📍 Izmir, Türkiye 🇹🇷 ✨ The key to a successful chess class in a school is maximizing the resources available. When you do this, you not only get a vibrant chess class, but you also bring people from the outside INTO the class. How did the