Praggnanandhaa Qualifies for Candidates 2026 After Winning FIDE Circuit

Praggnanandhaa Creates History, Qualifies for Candidates 2026 After Winning FIDE Circuit

Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa has achieved a milestone moment for Indian chess by earning a coveted berth at the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 , becoming India’s lone male representative in the world championship qualification cycle. His qualification, secured through victory in the FIDE Circuit 2025 , reinforces his rise as one of the strongest young contenders on the global stage.

Dominant Run Across the FIDE Circuit

Praggnanandhaa’s consistent excellence throughout the season proved decisive. He captured major titles at the Wijk Aan Zee Masters , Superbet Chess Classic Romania , UzChess Cup Masters , and the London Chess Classic Open . These victories positioned him firmly at the top of the circuit standings. His runner-up finish at the Stepan Avagyan Memorial , along with a competitive 12th-place result at the Sinquefield Cup , added to his strong portfolio. His progress to the fourth round of the FIDE World Cup further strengthened his qualification bid.

Confirmed Candidates 2026 Line-Up

Seven of the eight Candidates slots are now locked in: Anish Giri , Fabiano Caruana , Matthias Bluebaum , Javokhir Sindarov , Wei Yi , Andrey Esipenko , and R Praggnanandhaa . The final place will go to the player with the highest six-month average rating (Aug 2025–Jan 2026) who meets FIDE’s minimum games requirement. The tournament will be held in Cyprus from 28 March to 16 April 2026 .

Exam Oriented Facts

• Praggnanandhaa qualified by winning the FIDE Circuit 2025 .

• Candidates 2026 venue: Cyprus , dates 28 March–16 April .

• Final slot determined by six-month rating average .

• India has three qualifiers in Women’s Candidates 2026 .