Overview
- FIDE and R Praggnanandhaa confirmed on Monday that he topped the 2025 FIDE Circuit to secure qualification for the 2026 Candidates.
- A late entry into the London Chess Classic Open proved decisive by locking in an insurmountable points lead on the Circuit.
- His 2025 results include titles at Tata Steel Masters, Superbet Chess Classic Romania, UzChess Cup Masters and the London Chess Classic Open.
- The Candidates is scheduled for March 28–April 16, 2026 in Cyprus, and the winner earns a world championship match against D Gukesh.
- The current field lists Fabiano Caruana, Anish Giri, Matthias Blübaum, Javokhir Sindarov, Wei Yi and Andrey Esipenko alongside Praggnanandhaa, with one spot still open.