4/16/2026 – Javokhir Sindarov concluded the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus with a quick draw against Wei Yi, finishing on 10/14 and recording the highest score of the modern Candidates era. Anish Giri secured sole second place by beating Matthias Bluebaum, while Fabiano Caruana ended the event in third after defeating Andrey Esipenko. Sindarov gained more than 30 rating points and climbed to fifth place in the live ratings list. | Photo: ChessBase / Nils Rohde

4/16/2026 – Preparations are fully underway for the FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships 2026 in Hong Kong from 16 to 22 June. In previous editions, the tournament has featured numerous top players competing alongside amateurs and rising talents, producing a dynamic atmosphere rarely seen in traditional elite events. Magnus Carlsen is expected to participate in Hong Kong, adding further star power to the competition.

4/16/2026 – Strategical rules are important. Without them, learning chess would be much more difficult, if not impossible. When a beginner starts learning about the royal game, he needs a lot of guidance. Rules like “a bishop pair is stronger than a bishop and a knight” or “the threat is stronger than its execution” can provide such help. However, once the beginner turns into a grandmaster, he finds out that there is no need to follow the rules every time. Rules tend to have exceptions. Sometimes, specific aspects of the position are more important than an abstract rule. Let us have a look at four positions where it was good to break the rules! | Image: Markus Winkler

4/16/2026 – 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.

4/16/2026 – Vaishali Rameshbabu won the Women's Candidates Tournament by defeating Kateryna Lagno in the final round, finishing clear first on 8½/14 and earning the right to challenge Ju Wenjun for the world title. Bibisara Assaubayeva drew with Divya Deshmukh and finished in sole second place, while Zhu Jiner and Aleksandra Goryachkina shared third. Arne Kähler caught first impressions from the players. | Photo: ChessBase / Nils Rohde

4/15/2026 – 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.

4/15/2026 – One prominent guest of the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus is five-time World Champion Vishy Anand, who knows how it feels to play in and win—the Candidates. In an interview with ChessBase, he recalls the early days of databases and floppy disks, talks about the temptations of computer games, how preparation has changed over the years, and the upcoming World Championship match between challenger Javokhir Sindarov and reigning World Champion Gukesh. | Photo: Nils Rohde

4/15/2026 – FIDE has confirmed that the 2027 Grand Swiss will return to the Isle of Man, where the event was first held in 2019. Scheduled for 10–25 May, the tournament will feature a record prize fund of $900,000 and 170 players across the open and women's sections. As in previous editions, two qualifying places for the 2028 Candidates will be available in each event.

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