India’s R Praggnanandhaa will carry the national hopes as the FIDE Candidates Tournament begins in Cyprus on Sunday, March 29, the winner of which will earn the right to challenge reigning world champion D Gukesh later this year.
Praggnanandhaa is the only Indian in the Open section in the elite eight-member field and faces a tough test in the tournament, which will be played over a fortnight in a double-round format. Each participant will play the others twice, with the top scorer advancing to the World Championship match. The tournament is being played in the middle of war-torn West Asia, where the conflict between Iran and Israel shows no signs of stopping.
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On current form, American Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana enters as the favorite, closely followed by compatriot Hikaru Nakamura, who qualified through the rankings. The ever-consistent Anish Giri is expected to be a strong contender if he finds some early pace.
The rest of the field consists of China’s Wei Yi, Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov, Russia’s Andrey Esipenko and Germany’s Matthias Bluebaum, making her one of the most competitive contenders in recent years.
At Praggnanandhaa, the build-up was mixed. After a stellar 2025 season in which he topped the FIDE rankings on the circuit to qualify, the young Indian endured a year-end slump in form that extended to the Tata Steel Masters earlier this season. However, he arrives in Cyprus rested, having taken a break from competitive chess since February so that he could concentrate only on preparation.
Sindarov, the youngest entrant in the field, is widely considered a dark horse. The Uzbek made headlines by winning the World Chess Championship last year and has the tactical acumen and combativeness to trouble even the favourites. Meanwhile, Wei Yi and Giri are known for their solidity and defensive strength, while Esipenko remains a dangerous opponent capable of surprise. Bluebaum, the lowest ranked player in the field, will want to punch above his weight.
In the women’s section, China’s Tan Zhongyi starts as the leading contender, although the field remains open. India’s Koneru Humpy withdrew from the tournament due to security concerns and Ukraine’s Anna Muzychuk stepped in as her replacement.
India will also be represented by Divya Deshmukh, the reigning Women’s World Cup winner, and R Vaishali, who has built a reputation for her fearless approach. China’s Zhu Jiner and Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva are other strong contenders, while veteran fighters Kateryna Lagno and Alexandra Goryachkina add further depth to the field.
The tournament has a total prize pool of $1 million, with $700,000 allocated to the Open section and $300,000 to the women’s event. The opening ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, with the first round set to begin on Sunday as the World Cup build-up gathers pace amid heightened geopolitical tensions surrounding the region.
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Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
March 28, 2026 1:04 PM IST
