FIDE Candidates 2026: Pairings are out, who are you rooting for?
The pairings for the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 and the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026 have been confirmed after the Drawing of Lots ceremony held at the Cap St George’s Hotel & Resort in Paphos, Cyprus. The FIDE Candidates Tournaments, which will take place from 28 March to 16 April 2026, will determine the challengers for the World Championship and Women’s World Championship titles. The drawing of pairings was conducted by the Chief Arbiter, Takis Nikolopoulos. For the participants, the announcement of pairings marks a decisive shift in preparation. Opening repertoires, rest-day planning, and strategic approaches are refined months in advance based on the confirmed opponents. Photos and Details: FIDE Chess
The battle for the World Championship Title!!
Every chess player dreams of becoming World Champion, but only a select few ever reach the final stages of that journey. The FIDE Candidates Tournament stands as the last and most demanding step in the World Championship cycle, a historically gruelling event in which only one player earns the right to challenge for the title. At the conclusion of the events, the winners secure the right to challenge for the FIDE World Chess Championship and FIDE Women’s World Chess Championship titles.
FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026
FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026
Pairings
Round 1 on 2026/03/29 at 15:30 Local Time/19:00 IST
Javokhir Sindarov – Andrey Esipenko
Matthias Bluebaum – Wei Yi
Praggnanandhaa R – Anish Giri
Fabiano Caruana – Hikaru Nakamura
Check all rounds' pairing: Here
Round 1 on 2026/03/29 at 15:30 Local Time/19:00 IST
Divya Deshmukh – Humpy Koneru
Vaishali R – Bibisara Assaubayeva
Aleksandra Goryachkina – Kateryna Lagno
Zhu Jiner – Tan Zhongyi
Check all rounds' pairing: Here
Venue: Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort, Cyprus
The multi-award-winning Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort has been selected by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) as the ideal destination to host the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026, an event of historic and international significance. This selection represents the highest recognition both for Cyprus and for Cap St Georges Hotel& Resort, affirming the prestige, reliability, and organizational excellence required to host a world-class chess tournament. Surrounded by landscaped gardens with centuries-old olive trees, the resort reflects the island’s character through refined architecture and well-designed spaces, with a strong focus on privacy, comfort, and attentive service.
Both tournaments are held side by side at the Cap St Georges Hotel and Resort in Cyprus, a five-star coastal venue near Paphos. The resort offers a calm and professional setting for elite competition, with the playing hall, accommodation, and preparation areas located within the same complex, allowing players to focus fully on the event. Photo Gallery of Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort
Schedule and Format
March 28, Opening Ceremony
March 29, Round 1
March 30, Round 2
March 31, Round 3
April 01, Round 4
April 02, Rest day
April 03, Round 5
April 04, Round 6
April 05, Round 7
April 06, Rest day
April 07, Round 8
April 08, Round 9
April 09, Round 10
April 10, Rest day
April 11, Round 11
April 12, Round 12
April 13, Rest day
April 14, Round 13
April 15, Round 14
April 16, Tie-breaks and Closing Ceremony
Key details and Information
Two tournaments will be held side by side – the (Open) FIDE Candidates Tournament and the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament.
Format: In both the Open and the Women’s, the eight qualified players will compete in a double round-robin tournament, consisting of 14 rounds.
Time control: The games will be played with a time control of 120 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from move 41.
Prize fund: The minimum prize fund for the event stands at a record €1,000,000.
Tie-breaks: In the event of a tie for first place after 14 rounds, a playoff will be played to determine the winner who qualifies for the World Championship Match, due to take place in November 2026.
Important Links
Candidates 2026 Official Website
Regulations for the FIDE Candidates Tournament
