Praggnanandhaa carries India's hope as Candidates Tournament begins in war-threatened Cyprus
R Praggnanandhaa leads India's charge at the FIDE Candidates Tournament in Cyprus, with the winner set to challenge world champion D Gukesh later this year. Facing a strong international field, the young Grandmaster will look to rediscover his best form on the biggest stage.
India’s R Praggnanandhaa will carry the nation’s hopes as the FIDE Candidates Tournament gets underway in Cyprus on Sunday, March 29, with the winner earning the right to challenge reigning world champion D Gukesh later this year.
Praggnanandhaa is the sole Indian in the Open section of the elite eight-player field, and faces a stern test in a tournament that will unfold over a fortnight in a double round-robin format. Each participant will play the others twice, with the highest scorer securing a place in the World Championship match. The tournament is being played in the middle of a war-torn West Asia, where the conflict between Iran and Israel shows no signs of stopping.
On current form, American Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana enters as the favourite, closely followed by compatriot Hikaru Nakamura, who qualified via ratings. The ever-consistent Anish Giri is also expected to be a strong contender if he finds early momentum.
The rest of the field features China’s Wei Yi, Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov, Russia’s Andrey Esipenko, and Germany’s Matthias Bluebaum, making it one of the most competitive Candidates line-ups in recent years.
For Praggnanandhaa, the build-up has been mixed. After a stellar 2025 season that saw him top the FIDE circuit standings to qualify, the young Indian endured a dip in form towards the end of the year, which extended into the Tata Steel Masters earlier this season. However, he arrives in Cyprus well-rested, having taken a break from competitive chess since February to focus solely on preparation.
Sindarov, the youngest participant in the field, is widely regarded as the dark horse. The Uzbek made headlines by winning the Chess World Cup last year and possesses the tactical sharpness and fighting spirit to trouble even the favourites. Meanwhile, Wei Yi and Giri are known for their solidity and defensive strength, while Esipenko remains a dangerous opponent capable of springing surprises. Bluebaum, the lowest-ranked player in the field, will look to punch above his weight.
In the women’s section, China’s Tan Zhongyi starts as a leading contender, though the field remains open. India’s Koneru Humpy withdrew from the tournament citing security concerns, with Ukraine’s Anna Muzychuk stepping in as her replacement.
India will also be represented by Divya Deshmukh, the reigning Women’s World Cup winner, and R Vaishali, who has built a reputation for her fearless approach. Other strong contenders include China’s Zhu Jiner and Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva, while experienced campaigners Kateryna Lagno and Alexandra Goryachkina add further depth to the field.
The tournament carries a total prize pool of USD 1 million, with USD 700,000 allocated to the Open section and USD 300,000 to the women’s event. The opening ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, with the first round set to begin on Sunday, as the road to the World Championship gathers pace amid heightened geopolitical tensions surrounding the region.