FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 Final Lineup – Meet the Challengers | ShareChess

Back in September 2025, we published our deep dive on the Road to the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026, when qualification battles were still raging across the globe. (You can read that analysis here)

Now, the wait is over.

All 16 players — 8 in the Open Candidates and 8 in the Women’s Candidates — are officially confirmed. The chess world finally knows who will step into the arena from March 25 to May 1, 2026, fighting for the right to challenge the World Chess Champions — Gukesh Dommaraju in the Open section and the reigning Women’s World Champion in the Women’s cycle.

This post is the updated continuation of our earlier coverage — showcasing the final Candidates lineup and the journey each player took to reach the most elite tournament in chess.

Welcome to the final chapter before the World Championship battle.

Why the Candidates Tournament Matters

The FIDE Candidates Tournament is not just another elite event.

It is the gateway to the World Chess Championship.

A double round-robin, 14-round endurance test where only one survives at the top. Every game matters. Every half-point counts. Every mistake is punished.

And now, the lineup is locked.

FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 – Open Section

🇺🇸 Fabiano Caruana

Qualified via FIDE Circuit 2024 Winner

Caruana was the first to punch his ticket. By winning the 2024 FIDE Circuit, he once again proved why he remains one of the most consistent super-grandmasters of the modern era. This will be yet another Candidates appearance for the American star — and perhaps his most determined run yet.

🇳🇱 Anish Giri

Qualified via Grand Swiss 2025 Champion

Giri’s long-awaited Grand Swiss victory in Samarkand finally earned him a well-deserved Candidates seat. Calm, clinical, and deadly in endgames — Giri arrives with momentum and confidence.

🇩🇪 Matthias Bluebaum

Qualified via Grand Swiss 2025 Runner-up

Bluebaum edged out a stacked field on tiebreaks in Samarkand to secure his first-ever Candidates appearance. His rise over the past two years has been nothing short of remarkable.

🇨🇳 Wei Yi

Qualified via FIDE World Cup 2025 Finalist

Wei Yi’s return to top form culminated in a brilliant World Cup run, where he reached the final and sealed his Candidates spot. A prodigy turned powerhouse — and a dangerous contender.

🇺🇿 Javokhir Sindarov

Qualified via FIDE World Cup 2025 Finalist

Playing on home soil advantage during the World Cup circuit, Sindarov delivered the tournament of his life to reach the final and claim his Candidates berth. One of the most exciting new faces in the elite circle.

🇷🇺 Andrey Esipenko

Qualified via FIDE World Cup 2025 – Third Place

Esipenko completed the World Cup qualification trio by finishing third, booking his long-awaited Candidates debut. His steady rise through elite events has finally paid off.

🇮🇳 Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu

Qualified via FIDE Circuit 2025 Winner

India’s brightest young star dominated the 2025 FIDE Circuit season, building an unassailable points lead. Consistency, maturity, and fearless play — Praggnanandhaa enters as one of the favorites.

🇺🇸 Hikaru Nakamura

Qualified via Rating Spot

The final spot came through the average rating qualification, with Nakamura holding the highest six-month rating average. Controversial or not, the numbers don’t lie — Hikaru is back in the Candidates and ready to fight.

Eight players. One challenger. One shot at Gukesh.

FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026

The Women’s cycle has been just as competitive — and India’s dominance continues to shine.

🇨🇳 Zhu Jiner

Qualified via Women’s Grand Prix Winner

A model of consistency across the WGP series, Zhu Jiner topped the standings to claim her Candidates seat.

🇷🇺 Alexandra Goryachkina

Qualified via Women’s Grand Prix Runner-up

Already a former World Championship challenger, Goryachkina returns to the Candidates with experience and hunger.

🇮🇳 Divya Deshmukh

Qualified via Women’s World Cup Winner

Divya’s historic World Cup victory made headlines worldwide. At just 18, she enters the Candidates as India’s new chess sensation.

🇮🇳 Humpy Koneru

Qualified via Women’s World Cup Runner-up

Veteran legend Humpy once again proved her class by reaching the World Cup final. Calm, experienced, and still lethal.

🇨🇳 Tan Zhongyi

Qualified via Women’s World Cup Third Place

Former Women’s World Champion Tan Zhongyi completed the World Cup qualification trio, bringing elite experience to the field.

🇮🇳 Vaishali Rameshbabu

Qualified via Women’s Grand Swiss 2025 Winner

Back-to-back Grand Swiss champion. History-maker. Vaishali arrives with confidence and composure.

🇷🇺 Kateryna Lagno

Qualified via Women’s Grand Swiss 2025 Runner-up

Lagno narrowly missed the Grand Swiss title but comfortably secured her Candidates spot — a perennial threat in elite events.

🇷🇺 Bibisara Assaubayeva

Qualified via FIDE Women’s Events 2024–25

Assaubayeva completed the lineup through consistent high-level performances across the qualification cycle.

Another eight warriors. Another crown at stake.

🇮🇳 India’s Golden Generation on Full Display

One of the biggest stories of this Candidates cycle is India’s chess explosion:

Open Candidates:

Praggnanandhaa

World Champion Gukesh (waiting as title holder)

Women’s Candidates:

Humpy

Divya

Vaishali

India now stands at the very center of world chess — not just as a rising nation, but as a dominant force shaping the future.

What Happens Next?

From March 25 to May 1, 2026, these 16 players will battle in the double round-robin Candidates Tournaments.

The winners earn the ultimate prize:

The right to challenge World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju

And the Women’s World Champion title holder

No shortcuts. No safety nets. Just pure chess.

Final Thoughts from ShareChess

When we wrote our first article in September 2025, the Candidates race was still unfolding. Now, the lineup is final. The stage is set. The countdown begins.

At ShareChess.com, we’ll follow every move, every brilliancy, every heartbreak — all the way to the World Chess Championship match.

The road is over.

The battle is about to begin.