Indian grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa has earned a spot in the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament by topping the FIDE Circuit 2025. The 20-year-old plans to deploy unpredictable strategies and novelties to challenge elite players, including world champion D Gukesh.
R Praggnanandhaa secured qualification for the 2026 FIDE Candidates with 115.17 points in the FIDE Circuit 2025, becoming the sole Indian representative in the Open section—a key qualifier for the World Chess Championship cycle.
In a Chess.com interview, Praggnanandhaa stressed the need for innovation against familiar foes: 'All of them know my game, but the trick lies in coming up with novelty each time. Otherwise, it’s not possible to keep winning against the world’s best.' He emphasized unpredictability through new ideas and unconventional moves.
The event runs March 28 to April 16, 2026, at the Cap St Georges Hotel and Resort in Pegeia, Cyprus, in a double round-robin format over 14 rounds. Participants include Praggnanandhaa, Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura, Anish Giri, Wei Yi, Javokhir Sindarov, Matthias Blübaum, and Andrey Esipenko. The winner challenges D Gukesh for the world title and claims €70,000.
Praggnanandhaa is rebounding from a 2025 rankings dip outside the FIDE top 10. Gukesh, who recently voiced enthusiasm for an all-Indian Candidates final, adds to the excitement around their rivalry.
