Chess Candidates 2026

2026 Candidates – Round 2 (All Draws) 2026 Candidates Prediction Model In‑tournament TPR · dynamic projections · win probabilities 📊 ROUND 2 · ALL DRAWS Rank Player TPR Pts Win Probability Outlook 1 Fabiano Caruana 3000 1.0 16.5% 🚀 Strong start 2 R Praggnanandhaa 3000 1.0 16.5% 🚀 Strong start 3 Wei Yi 3000 0.5 12.0% ⚖️ Solid start 4 Javokhir Sindarov 2800 1.0 14.0% 🚀 Strong start 5 Anish Giri 2800 0.0 4.5% ⚠️ Needs recovery 6 Matthias Bluebaum 2600 0.5 8.0% ⚖️ Solid start 7 Hikaru Nakamura 2600 0.0 4.0% ⚠️ Needs recovery 8 Andrey Esipenko 2600 0.0 4.0% ⚠️ Needs recovery 📊 Win probability = chance to reach 8.5 pts (historical threshold) 📈 TP...

Round 2 Report: All draws as the Candidates settle into a marathon | The Gauntlet Round 2: All draws as the Candidates settle into a marathon No decisive games, but the leaders hold their ground and the chasing pack avoids a knockout blow By Barmoiben Kipkemoi Araap Korir · edwinkorir@gmail.com ♟️ A quiet day in Cyprus The second round of the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament produced no decisive results. All four games ended in draws, a stark contrast to the three wins that marked the opening day. For the early leaders – Fabiano Caruana , R Praggnanandhaa and Javokhir Sindarov – it was a chance to consolidate their position without risk. For the losers of Round 1 – Hikaru Nakamura , Anish Giri and Andrey Esipenko – it was a vital half‑point that stopped the bleeding and kept them within touching distance of the pack. The day’s games were tense but cautious, with none of the playe...

Predictions After Round 1 | 2026 Candidates Predictions After Round 1 Caruana, Praggnanandhaa and Sindarov strike early – what the numbers say By Barmoiben Kipkemoi Araap Korir · edwinkorir@gmail.com 🎯 The methodology: reading the early signs The first round of the 2026 FIDE Candidates delivered three decisive games, a marquee clash decided, and the early separation of the field. Fabiano Caruana , R Praggnanandhaa and Javokhir Sindarov all opened with victories, while Hikaru Nakamura , Anish Giri and Andrey Esipenko were left to lick their wounds. Matthias Blübaum and Wei Yi shared the point in a quieter affair. But what do these early results actually tell us? In a fourteen‑round marathon, a single game can be a false dawn or a genuine turning point. To separate noise from signal, we apply a methodology rooted in historical Candidates performance – one that has correctly ide...

Candidates 2026: Early signals and predictions after Round 1 | The Gauntlet Early signals and predictions after Round 1 Caruana, Praggnanandhaa and Sindarov strike early – what the numbers say By Barmoiben Kipkemoi Araap Korir · edwinkorir@gmail.com 🎯 The methodology: reading the early signs The first round of the 2026 FIDE Candidates delivered three decisive games, a marquee clash decided, and the early separation of the field. Fabiano Caruana , R Praggnanandhaa and Javokhir Sindarov all opened with victories, while Hikaru Nakamura , Anish Giri and Andrey Esipenko were left to lick their wounds. Matthias Blübaum and Wei Yi shared the point in a quieter affair. But what do these early results actually tell us? In a fourteen‑round marathon, a single game can be a false dawn or a genuine turning point. To separate noise from signal, we apply a methodology rooted in historical C...

```html Round 1 Report: Caruana, Sindarov and Praggnanandhaa strike early | The Gauntlet Caruana, Sindarov and Praggnanandhaa strike early Three decisive results light up the opening round in Cyprus as Nakamura falls and Giri succumbs By Barmoiben Kipkemoi Araap Korir · edwinkorir@gmail.com ♟️ Round 1 – Live broadcast replay Relive the action on Lichess. Commentary by GMs Peter Svidler and Jan Gustafsson available on the FIDE YouTube channel . 🎯 Caruana breaks the streak: Nakamura loses in classical again The headline pairing of the opening round delivered the decisive result everyone hoped for. Fabiano Caruana (USA) exacted revenge on Hikaru Nakamura (USA), winning a tense, 52‑move battle to become the first leader of the 2026 Candidates. Caruana, playing white, chose the Catalan and slowly built pressure before forcing a decisive endgame error from ...

Candidates Winners List (1950–2024) | The Gauntlet Full list of Candidates winners (1950–2024) From Bronstein to Gukesh – the champions who earned the right to challenge for the world title By Barmoiben Kipkemoi Araap Korir · edwinkorir@gmail.com The Candidates Tournament came into existence in 1950 as the final qualifying event for the World Chess Championship. Over the decades, it has produced legendary champions and unforgettable drama. Below is the complete list of winners in the open category from 1950 to 2024. Year Winner 1950 David Bronstein 1953 Vasily Smyslov 1956 Vasily Smyslov 1959 Mikhail Tal 1962 Tigran Petrosian 1965 Boris Spassky 1968 Boris Spassky 1971 Bobby Fischer 1974 Anatoly Karpov 1977 Viktor Korchnoi 1980 Viktor Korchnoi 1983 ...

Round 1 Preview: The Gauntlet Opens in Cyprus | 2026 Candidates Round 1 Preview: The Gauntlet Opens in Cyprus Caruana vs Nakamura, Sindarov vs Esipenko, Blübaum vs Wei Yi, Pragg vs Giri – the battle begins By Barmoiben Kipkemoi Araap Korir · edwinkorir@gmail.com ♟️ Live Broadcast – Round 1 Follow all four games live on Lichess. Commentary by GMs Peter Svidler and Jan Gustafsson on the FIDE YouTube channel . 🎯 The Headline: Caruana vs Nakamura Fabiano Caruana (USA, 2795) v Hikaru Nakamura (USA, 2810) Colours: Caruana White, Nakamura Black The marquee game of the opening round brings together the two highest‑rated players in the field, separated by just 15 rating points and a decade of shared history. Caruana, the 2018 Candidates winner, is making his sixth appearance – only Anatoly Karpov and Viktor Korchnoi have played more. Nakamura, who...

A ceremony worthy of champions: 2026 Candidates opens in Cyprus | The Gauntlet A ceremony worthy of champions Cyprus hosts a dazzling opening to the 2026 FIDE Candidates tournaments By Barmoiben Kipkemoi Araap Korir · edwinkorir@gmail.com The games may only begin today, but every major sporting event deserves a memorable start, and the 2026 FIDE Candidates delivered exactly that. The opening ceremony, held on the evening of 28 March at the Cap St Georges Hotel and Resort in Pegeia, Cyprus, blended music, fireworks, humour, and moments of gravity into a vibrant spectacle. Even a touch of rain couldn’t dampen the spirits of the audience, who embraced the atmosphere with enthusiasm. 📸 A gathering of minds The Cap St Georges Hotel and Resort, venue of the 2026 Candidates. Photo: Wikimedia Commons The afternoon’s schedule began with a str...