The FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026, taking place in Cyprus from 28 March to 16 April 2026, will decide who earns the right to challenge the reigning World Chess Champion.
In this 20-minute discussion, chess enthusiast Björn Knöppel, together with International Master Thomas Engqvist (behind the camera), shares in-depth thoughts on the tournament, the players, and who may ultimately emerge victorious.
The confirmed field for Candidates 2026 features an exceptional mix of experience and youth:
Fabiano Caruana (USA) – qualified via the FIDE Circuit 2024
Anish Giri (Netherlands) – winner of the 2025 Grand Swiss
Matthias Blübaum (Germany) – runner-up, 2025 Grand Swiss
R Praggnanandhaa (India) – qualified via the FIDE Circuit 2025
Hikaru Nakamura (USA) – qualified by rating spot
Javokhir Sindarov (Uzbekistan) – FIDE World Cup 2025 qualifier
Wei Yi (China) – FIDE World Cup 2025 finalist
Andrey Esipenko (Russia) – third place, FIDE World Cup 2025
Knöppel and Engqvist analyse the strengths, weaknesses, form, and psychological challenges facing each contender in this demanding round-robin event. The discussion also explores what it truly takes to win a Candidates Tournament and handle the pressure of playing for a World Championship match.
This video is aimed at club players, competitive amateurs, and all chess enthusiasts interested in elite chess, tournament dynamics, and high-level strategic insight.
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