2026 Candidates Tournament

The 2026 Candidates Tournament brings together eight elite Grandmasters in Pegeia, Cyprus. Indeed, it is one of the most consequential competitions in the chess world. Moreover, this prestigious double round-robin event determines the official challenger to reigning World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju. Today in Chess: Candidates Edition focuses on the two Americans in the field. Those players are world number 2 Hikaru Nakamura and world number 3 Fabiano Caruana. Both represent the United States among the world’s best.

About the 2026 Candidates Tournament

The 2026 Candidates Tournament runs from March 29 through April 16, 2026. It is hosted at the Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort in Pegeia, Cyprus. In the double round-robin format, each player faces every opponent twice. As a result, the format demands consistent excellence over the full course of play. Ultimately, the winner earns the right to challenge World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju for the title.

The eight competitors are:

GM Fabiano Caruana

GM Hikaru Nakamura

GM Anish Giri

GM R. Praggnanandhaa

GM Wei Yi

GM Andrey Esipenko

GM Javokhir Sindarov

GM Matthias Bluebaum

The American Players: Nakamura and Caruana

The American presence in this field is formidable. Hikaru Nakamura enters as the world number 2 ranked player. Fabiano Caruana, furthermore, holds the world number 3 ranking. In addition, both players arrive as serious contenders for the challenger spot. Follow along as they pursue a match against reigning World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju. Today in Chess: Candidates Edition will cover their games, results, and key moments as the event unfolds.

Watch the 2026 Candidates Tournament Live

Daily live coverage is available on the Saint Louis Chess Club’s YouTube and Twitch channels. Tune in each day for full round coverage from Pegeia, Cyprus. Also, an expert panel provides live analysis for every game. The broadcast team includes GM Yasser Seirawan, GM Maurice Ashley, GM Evgenij Miroshnichenko, and IM Nazí Paikidze. Together, they bring deep expertise and engaging commentary to every session.