4/15/2026 – The Candidates Tournaments form the final qualifying stage of the FIDE World Championship cycle. Each tournament features eight of the world's strongest players competing in a double round-robin format over fourteen rounds of classical chess. No fewer than six players (out of eight) enter the final round with mathematical chances of winning the Women's Candidates Tournament. | Follow the games live with expert commentary starting at 14.30 CEST (8.30 ET, 18.00 IST) | Photo: Michal Walusza

4/15/2026 – Head-to-head records between the participants of the Candidates Tournaments provide useful context for each pairing. Drawing on data compiled via Mega Database 2026, the key statistics from past encounters highlight imbalances and trends. While such figures are not decisive, they offer an additional perspective on how rivalries have developed before a tournament that will determine the next challenger for the world title.

4/15/2026 – Karsten is joined by Bodhana Sivanandan who is Britain's No.1 female player at the age of 11 years. | You can watch the Endgame Magic Show on-demand with a ChessBase Premium account.

4/15/2026 – Bibisara Assaubayeva joined Vaishali Rameshbabu in the lead of the Women's Candidates Tournament after defeating Anna Muzychuk in round thirteen. Vaishali remained atop the standings after escaping with a draw against Tan Zhongyi, while Zhu Jiner first missed a chance to move into sole first place and then even lost to Aleksandra Goryachkina. Kateryna Lagno stayed in contention by beating Divya Deshmukh, leaving six players still with chances ahead of the final round. | Photo: FIDE / Niki Riga

4/14/2026 – Javokhir Sindarov secured overall victory at the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus with a draw against Anish Giri in round thirteen. The 20-year-old clinched first place with a round to spare and will face Gukesh Dommaraju for the world title later this year. Wei Yi scored the only win of the day, while the remaining games were drawn, leaving the standings settled at the top. | Photo: ChessBase / Nils Rohde

4/14/2026 – The ChessBase crew travels to Cyprus to cover the Candidates Tournament, bringing you daily impressions from one of the biggest events in chess. What is the atmosphere like around the world’s best players? How is the venue, and where do the stars spend their time? What happens behind the scenes in the media centre and beyond? And what is Cyprus like as a host for such a prestigious event? From travel moments and unexpected encounters to exclusive insights into the tournament environment, we take you along for the journey—day by day. Experience the Candidates from the inside.

4/12/2026 – Four draws in round eleven of the Candidates Open chiefly benefitted Javokhir Sindarov, who thus continues to lead the field, two points ahead of Anish Giri. With only three rounds remaining, it is becoming increasingly difficult for Giri to catch the Uzbek grandmaster. There was drama on the board in Matthias Bluebaum's game against Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, but in the end the encounter concluded in a draw. | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

4/12/2026 – ChessBase´26 also impresses with its clarity: Analysing with multiple menu windows without losing the overview is no problem. Are you familiar with the six standard layouts or do you prefer your own? Explore the options and try them all out. You will be amazed at how you can use this ChessBase feature to visually organise your analysis in a meaningful and effective way.

4/11/2026 – At the Menorca Chess Festival, one player is naturally in the spotlight: reigning world champion Gukesh Dommaraju. While on another, more easterly Mediterranean island his World Championship match opponent is being determined, the 19-year-old is taking part in a small but highly competitive rapid chess tournament. Following a series of disappointing results and his decision to significantly reduce his tournament schedule, he announced that he would forgo his place in this year's Grand Chess Tour. | Photo: Saji Mathew

4/11/2026 – Head-to-head records between the participants of the Candidates Tournaments provide useful context for each pairing. Drawing on data compiled via Mega Database 2026, the key statistics from past encounters highlight imbalances and trends. While such figures are not decisive, they offer an additional perspective on how rivalries have developed before a tournament that will determine the next challenger for the world title.

4/10/2026 – Bodhana Sivanandan comes across as an exceptionally calm, self-driven young talent whose love for chess seems to grow naturally from curiosity, beauty, and enjoyment rather than pressure or ego. In the interview, she talks about her admiration for Capablanca, her instinctive feel for endgames, and her practical approach to improvement, often learning simply by playing, spotting mistakes, and correcting them for next time. She also reflects with striking maturity on losses, fame, expectations, and long-term goals, showing that she prefers to focus on steady progress instead of forcing milestones or assumptions about the future. Overall, the conversation paints a picture of a rare chess prodigy who is already highly accomplished, yet remains grounded, thoughtful, and fully focused on becoming the best player she can be.

4/10/2026 – 40th move In the diagram position Black wins through passed pawn power and not least good nerves - enjoy!