The Candidates tournament in Cyprus will see eight players battle for a shot to become the reigning world champion's challenger. The tournament, which takes place from March 29 to April 16, promises to be a grueling process that will test the players' mental resilience and endurance.
Among the favorites is Fabiano Caruana, who has been the strongest player after Magnus Carlsen for a while now. However, he believes that his experience doesn't necessarily offer him an edge. Hikaru Nakamura, another top contender, has been struggling with his form in classical chess, having not played a top-level tournament in the format since Norway Chess in June 2025.
Praggnanandhaa, the only Indian in the line-up, will be hoping to put his recent poor form behind him in his second successive Candidates. He will face Anish Giri in Round 1, a player known for his solid play and superb theoretician skills.
Among the dark horses is Javokhir Sindarov, a 20-year-old Uzbek prodigy who won the 2025 World Cup. Vaishali Rameshbabu and Divya Deshmukh, two Indian players, will also be looking to make a mark in the tournament. Vaishali, who made a stunning comeback in her Candidates debut two years ago, will be riding on sheer momentum and tenacity, while Divya, on her debut, could turn out to be a disruptor.
