Post by : Mariam
Al-Faris
Indian Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa has won the FIDE Circuit 2025, earning a direct place in next year’s Candidates Tournament. He will be the only Indian man competing in the event, marking a major milestone in his fast-rising chess career. The young star had an impressive season, winning the Tata Steel Masters, Superbet Chess Classic Romania, UzChess Cup Masters, and the London Chess Classic Open. He also finished second at the Stepan Avagyan Memorial and took 12th place at the Sinquefield Cup before exiting in the fourth round of the FIDE World Cup.
With this victory, seven of the eight spots in the 2026 Candidates Tournament have now been confirmed. Along with Praggnanandhaa, the lineup includes Anish Giri, Fabiano Caruana, Matthias Blübaum, Javokhir Sindarov, Wei Yi, and Andrey Esipenko. The final place will be awarded to the player with the highest six-month average rating between August 2025 and January 2026. To qualify, the player must complete at least 40 FIDE-rated games during this period, including 15 games across any six consecutive rating lists.
The tournament will take place between March and April 2026, where the world’s top players will compete for a chance to challenge for the World Chess Championship. While Praggnanandhaa represents India in the open category, India will also have strong representation in the Women’s Candidates. Three Indian players — Divya Deshmukh, Koneru Humpy, and R. Vaishali — have already secured their places, highlighting India’s growing strength in global chess.
Praggnanandhaa’s consistent performance, discipline, and rising international success continue to inspire young players worldwide. His qualification adds pride to Indian chess and strengthens the country’s presence on the world stage, proving once again that hard work and strategy can lead to remarkable achievements.
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