FIDE Candidates 2026

8 players will play a double Round-Robin in 14 rounds with a time control of 120 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from move 41.

Every chess player dreams of becoming World Champion, but only a select few ever reach the final stages of that journey. The FIDE Candidates Tournament stands as the last and most demanding step in the World Championship cycle, a historically gruelling event in which only one player earns the right to challenge for the title. The 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament forms the final qualifying stage of the FIDE World Championship cycle.

The tournament features eight of the world's strongest players competing in a double round-robin format over fourteen rounds of classical chess. At the conclusion of the event, the winner secures the right to challenge for the FIDE World Chess Championship title. The tournament is played under classical time controls and is regarded as the most exacting test in professional chess.

A minimum prize fund of €700,000 is allocated to the tournament, reflecting its position at the highest level of the international chess calendar, with prize money distributed according to final standings and points scored.

Source: FIDE