Maxime Vachier-Lagrave on Candidates Chess 2026: Caruana is the Favorite, But Anyone Can Win
The highly anticipated Candidates Chess tournament for 2026 is scheduled to unfold in Paphos, Cyprus, from March 28th to April 16th, 2026. This prestigious event will feature eight elite players competing in a double round-robin format, ensuring each participant faces every opponent twice across a total of 14 rounds. The formidable lineup includes Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura, R Praggnanandhaa, Anish Giri, Wei Yi, Andrey Esipenko, Javokhir Sindarov, and Matthias Blübaum. The opening round is set for March 29th, with the final decisive round concluding on April 16th.
French grandmaster Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (MVL) shared his insights on the tournament's unique demands, stating, “It is one tournament where you have to overperform. Even if you are Magnus Carlsen.” He highlighted Fabiano Caruana as the favorite but quickly added a caveat: “Fabiano Caruana is the favorite for the Candidates, but anybody can win, anybody can do well.”
MVL emphasized the high stakes, asserting that “only the first place matters” in such a critical event. This suggests players will arrive with their absolute best preparations, ready for a fierce competition.
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Candidates Chess 2026 LIVE
The **Candidates Chess Tournament 2026** is set to take place in **Paphos, Cyprus**, from **March 28th to April 16th, 2026**. This prestigious event will feature eight top players competing in a double round-robin format, meaning each participant will face every other opponent twice, totaling