Archive · 25 Dec 2025
Praggnanandhaa Third Favorite for Candidates, Says Carlsen
Magnus Carlsen, the top-ranked chess player, thinks that R Praggnanandhaa from India is the third best player to win the upcoming Candidates tournament.
The top two favorites are American players Hikaru Nakamura and Fabiano Caruana.
The Candidates tournament is like a big competition where the winner gets to play for the World Championship.
Carlsen also mentioned that some other strong players like Vincent Keymer and Arjun Erigaisi should have been in the tournament but didn't qualify.
The tournament will start in Cyprus on March 28, 2026.
Magnus Carlsen considers R Praggnanandhaa the third favorite to win the 2026 Candidates tournament.
Hikaru Nakamura and Fabiano Caruana are the top favorites according to Carlsen.
The Candidates tournament will feature eight players, including Praggnanandhaa, Nakamura, Caruana, Anish Giri, Matthias Bluebaum, Javokhir Sindarov, Wei Yi, and Andrey Esipenko.
Carlsen believes FIDE should find a way to include notable players like Vincent Keymer and Arjun Erigaisi in future tournaments.
The 2026 Candidates tournament is scheduled to begin on March 28 in Cyprus.
- Who
- Magnus Carlsen, R Praggnanandhaa, Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana, Vincent Keymer, Arjun Erigaisi
- What
- Magnus Carlsen's predictions for the 2026 Candidates chess tournament
- When
- The 2026 Candidates begins on March 28, 2026
- Where
- Cyprus
- Why
- Carlsen believes Praggnanandhaa is a strong contender and discusses the tournament's structure and notable exclusions
- Tournament
- 2026 Candidates
- Top Favorites
- Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana, R Praggnanandhaa
- Other Participants
- Anish Giri, Matthias Bluebaum, Javokhir Sindarov, Wei Yi, Andrey Esipenko
- Notable Exclusions
- Vincent Keymer, Arjun Erigaisi
- Tournament Date
- March 28, 2026
- Tournament Location
- Cyprus