Турнир претендентов ФИДЕ среди женщин 2026 стартует 28 марта на Кипре, где восемь сильнейших шахматисток сразятся в формате двойного кругового турнира за право бросить вызов чемпионке мира среди женщин Цзю Вэньцзюнь. Соревнование в отеле Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort объединит опытных ветеранов и восходящие таланты. Опубликованы полные пары, что задаёт тон 14 раундам классических партий.
Турнир, проходящий на западном побережье средиземноморского острова Кипр, определит претендентку на матч с Цзю Вэньцзюнь из Китая в цикле чемпионата мира. Игроки из одной федерации запланированы на ранние раунды в соответствии с регламентом ФИДЕ. The field includes a mix of seasoned competitors and young prospects, sorted by their March 2026 FIDE ratings: - Zhu Jiner (China, 2578): The highest-rated participant, she qualified by winning the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2024–25 series. Known for her aggressive style and strong opening preparation, this marks her Candidates debut. - Humpy Koneru (India, 2535): A veteran with multiple Candidates appearances, she earned her spot as runner-up in the 2025 Women’s World Cup in Batumi. Her calm, positional play has secured her five World Rapid and Blitz medals. - Tan Zhongyi (China, 2535): Former Women’s World Champion (2017–2018), she qualified via third place in the 2025 Women’s World Cup. Renowned for strategic depth, she won the 2024 Women’s Candidates in Toronto. - Aleksandra Goryachkina (FIDE, 2534): A technically refined player, she qualified as runner-up in the 2024–25 FIDE Women’s Grand Prix. She won the 2023 Women’s World Cup and the 2025 Women’s World Rapid Championship. - Bibisara Assaubayeva (Kazakhstan, 2516): Qualified through the FIDE Women’s Events 2024–25 series. A three-time Women’s World Blitz Champion, she recently reached a career-high rating after the Tata Steel Challengers. - Kateryna Lagno (FIDE, 2508): Runner-up at the 2025 FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss, she brings extensive experience, including multiple blitz titles and Olympiad golds. - Divya Deshmukh (India, 2497): The youngest contender, she won the 2025 Women’s World Cup and earned the Grandmaster title. She contributed to India’s 2024 Chess Olympiad gold. - Vaishali Rameshbabu (India, 2470): Winner of the 2025 FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss, she also secured gold at the 2024 Olympiad. Her tactical awareness makes her a strong contender despite the lowest rating. The double round-robin format promises critical matchups between generations, with styles ranging from tactical dynamism to strategic grinding. Official website: https://candidates2026.fide.com/. Tickets: https://tickets.fide.com/.