US EditionPraggnanandhaa Expects Stiff Challenge at Candidates 2026 After Becoming only Indian to Qualify: 'Going to Be Extremely Strong'
R. Praggnanandhaa topped the 2025 FIDE Circuit with 115.17 points, securing his spot as the only Indian man in the 2026 Candidates Tournament.
- On Monday, R. Praggnanandhaa clinched the FIDE Circuit 2025 and secured qualification as the only Indian man for the eight-player Candidates 2026 after a last-gasp dash to London Chess Classic.
- Having amassed 115.17 points, Praggnanandhaa secured his lead with titles at Tata Steel Masters, Superbet Chess Classic Romania, UzChess Cup Masters, and London Chess Classic Open this year.
- At the London Chess Classic, Pragg scored 7/9, adding 8.17 circuit points, while Nodirbek Abdusattorov's 19.62 points could not overtake him in the race.
- Praggnanandhaa joins Anish Giri, Fabiano Caruana, Matthias Bluebaum, Javokhir Sindarov, Wei Yi and Andrey Esipenko in the eight-player Candidates while India has three entrants in the Women’s Candidates.
- Praggnanandhaa said he will have little time to prepare for the Candidates 2026 and will travel to Mumbai to play in the Global Chess League ahead of the event.
14 Articles
14 Articles
R Praggnanandhaa Qualifies For Candidates 2026 After Indian GM Wins FIDE Circuit 2025
India's Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa was on Monday declared winner in the FIDE Circuit 2025, thus securing his qualification as the only Indian man in next year’s Candidates tournament to be played next year. R Praggnanandhaa Qualifies For Candidates 2026 After Indian GM Wins FIDE Circuit 2025.
Praggnanandhaa secures Candidates spot as last-gasp entry at London Classic’s open section pays off
Praggnanandhaa secured his spot via the FIDE Circuit route which could have been in some peril if he had not played in London, because the other contender for the spot, Uzbekistan's Nodirbek Abdusattorov, had entered the elite event at London Classic.
Praggnanandhaa expects stiff challenge at Candidates 2026 after becoming only Indian to qualify: 'Going to be extremely strong'
Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa qualified for the 2026 Candidates Tournament for the second consecutive time after finishing top of the 2025 FIDE Circuit, thereby keeping the dream of an all-Indian showdown with D Gukesh for the World Championship alive.
Praggnanandhaa qualifies for Candidates 2026, to be only man to represent India
The Grandmaster from Chennai has arguably been one of the best male players from the country this year, clinching titles at the Tata Steel Masters, Superbet Chess Classic Romania, UzChess Cup Masters, and London Chess Classic Open.
In December 2025, Indian Grandmaster (GM) Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa won the International Chess Federation (FIDE) Circuit 2025, a year-long series of tournaments held from January to December 2025, with 115.17 points, thereby securing direct qualification for the Candidates Tournament 2026. He is the only male to qualify through the FIDE Circuit […] The post GM R. Praggnanandhaa wins FIDE Circuit 2025, qualifies for Candidates Tournament 2026 ap…
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