Archive · 27 Nov 2025
Candidates 2026: Sindarov, Wei Yi, Esipenko Qualify
Three more chess players, Javokhir Sindarov, Wei Yi, and Andrey Esipenko, have qualified for the Candidates Tournament 2026.
This tournament is like a big competition where the winner gets to play in the World Championship.
The tournament will be held in Cyprus from March 28 to April 16, 2026.
So far, six players have qualified, and two more spots are still open.
The players who qualify will compete in a series of games to see who gets to challenge the current world champion.
The winner of the Candidates Tournament will get a big prize of 70,000 euros.
Javokhir Sindarov, Wei Yi, and Andrey Esipenko qualified for the Candidates Tournament 2026 via the FIDE World Cup 2025.
The tournament will be held in Cyprus from March 28 to April 16, 2026.
Fabiano Caruana, Anish Giri, and Matthias Blübaum have already qualified through different routes.
Only two spots remain for the eight-player World Championship challenger event.
The prize fund for the event is a record one million euros, with the winner receiving 70,000 euros.
- Who
- Javokhir Sindarov, Wei Yi, Andrey Esipenko, Fabiano Caruana, Anish Giri, Matthias Blübaum
- What
- Qualification for the Candidates Tournament 2026
- When
- March 28 - April 16, 2026
- Where
- Cyprus
- Why
- To compete for a spot in the World Championship Match in November 2026
- Qualification Method
- FIDE World Cup 2025
- Players Qualified
- Javokhir Sindarov, Wei Yi, Andrey Esipenko
- Tournament Dates
- March 28 - April 16, 2026
- Tournament Location
- Cyprus
- Total Players
- 8
- Prize Fund
- 1,000,000 euros
- Winner's Prize
- 70,000 euros
- Runner-up Prize
- 45,000 euros