Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.
One way to qualify for the 2026 Candidates Tournament is through the FIDE Circuit, a new competition introduced by FIDE, which comprises a series of tournaments. Depending on the format and strength of each tournament, players earn Circuit points based on their performance, which are tallied at the end of the year. The player with the most points secures a place in the 2026 Candidates Tournament. Two spots are awarded in this manner: one for 2024 and another for 2025.
The last two tournaments where players could earn Circuit points for 2024 were the World Rapid and Blitz Championships. Before these tournaments, Fabiano Caruana was narrowly ahead of Arjun Erigaisi in the Circuit standings. Caruana managed to maintain this lead and secured victory in the 2024 FIDE Circuit.
Navigating the Ruy Lopez Vol.1-3
The Ruy Lopez is one of the oldest openings which continues to enjoy high popularity from club level to the absolute world top. In this video series, American super GM Fabiano Caruana, talking to IM Oliver Reeh, presents a complete repertoire for White.
With this, Caruana has become the first player to qualify for the upcoming Candidates Tournament. Previously, the runner-up of the previous World Championship match was automatically qualified for the Candidates Tournament, but FIDE has abolished this rule. If Ding Liren wishes to make another attempt at the World Championship title, he will need to qualify through other means.
For Caruana, this will be his sixth Candidates Tournament. His first appearance was in Moscow in 2016, where he finished tied for 2nd-3rd place, narrowly behind Sergey Karjakin.
Two years later, in 2018, at the Berlin Candidates Tournament, Caruana performed better and won the event. In the subsequent World Championship match against Magnus Carlsen in London, 2018, Caruana achieved a 6-6 draw in classical games, as all 12 games ended in draws. However, Carlsen convincingly won the rapid tie-break with a score of 3-0.
Caruana also participated in the next three Candidates Tournaments. In 2020-21, he finished tied for 3rd-4th place, while in 2022, he placed 5th, marking his worst performance in an edition of the Candidates Tournament.
At the 2024 Candidates in Toronto, Caruana played against Ian Nepomniachtchi in the final round. With a victory, he could have tied with Dommaraju Gukesh in 1st place, which would have necessitated a tiebreak to determine who would face Ding Liren in the World Championship match in November. The game against Nepomniachtchi was dramatic, as Caruana missed several winning opportunities and ultimately had to settle for a draw after 109 moves, finishing tied for 2nd-4th place.
Power Play 27 and 28 - The King's Gambit and Tactic Toolbox
Glorious sacrifices, unexpected tactics and checkmating attacks. The King's Gambit is one of the oldest and most romantic openings in the game of chess. These DVDs contain all you need to know to play the King's Gambit.
Currently ranked 2nd in the world, Caruana will be among the favourites at the 2026 Candidates if he manages to maintain his form and playing strength over the next two years.
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