Chess · International
FIDE confirms the complete Candidates fields
Two eight-player tournaments will determine the next world championship challengers.
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FIDE confirmed the completed fields for its 2026 Candidates and Women’s Candidates tournaments in Cyprus. Both competitions will be held at Cap St Georges Hotel and Resort near Paphos, returning the event to Europe after its North American edition.
Hikaru Nakamura secured the final open place through average classical rating. The women’s field includes Grand Prix qualifiers Zhu Jiner and Aleksandra Goryachkina, World Cup qualifiers Divya Deshmukh, Humpy Koneru and Tan Zhongyi, plus three further qualifying players.
Each eight-player field will contest fourteen rounds in a double round-robin format. FIDE specified a minimum combined prize fund of one million euros and a playoff if first place is tied. Winners advance to their respective world championship matches.
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