Overview
- Blübaum secured qualification by finishing second behind Anish Giri at the FIDE Grand Swiss in Samarkand.
- Vincent Keymer ended level on points with Blübaum but missed the spot on tiebreak.
- The Candidates tournament will feature eight players, with the date and venue yet to be announced.
- Blübaum’s run included wins over Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa and Erigaisi Arjun.
- German officials Jan Gustafson and Ingrid Lauterbach lauded the performance as a major boost for national chess.