If you thought the 2025 FIDE Circuit was a cakewalk for Indian chess prodigy R Praggnanandhaa, hold your horses, because a pack of hungry Grandmasters is lurking, ready to snatch that last spot in the 2026 Candidates Tournament.
With six spots already locked via last year’s Circuit, Grand Swiss, and World Cup, and world No. 2 Hikaru Nakamura owning the rating wildcard, Pragg is leading the 2025 standings by a whopping margin, keeping the dream of an all-Indian World Championship clash with D Gukesh alive. But can Vincent Keymer or the Nodirbek duo pull off a late miracle? Let’s look at the details.
Praggnanandhaa ‘s Iron Grip on the Circuit
From the get-go, Praggnanandhaa has been on fire, amassing 107 points from seven events like a boss, clinching wins at Tata Steel Chess, Superbet Chess Classic Romania, and UzChess Cup Masters. Right now, the 20-year-old is joint-leading the London Chess Classic Open with 5.5/7, and Doha’s World Rapid & Blitz looms large.
A top-three finish there, or even victory in London (netting 11 more points), seals the deal for his second straight Candidates appearance. It’s pure dominance, the kind that screams “underdog no more,” but chess being chess, nothing’s wrapped up till the final move.
Who Could Snatch His 2026 Candidates Tournament Spot
Enter Vincent Keymer, the 21-year-old German GM who’s Pragg’s closest shadow at 55.83 points from four events, including his Chennai Grand Masters triumph. Trailing by over 50 points? Yeah, it’s a mountain, but Keymer’s got youth and fire, watch him prowl. Then there’s the USA’s Wesley So (52.41 from four), Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov (51.99 from five), and Nodirbek Yakubboev (50.55 from five). These players have qualified elsewhere already, so no double-dipping risk, but a hot streak in London or Doha could flip the script.
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Drama on the Horizon
Pragg’s no stranger to pressure, remember his near-misses? But with Arjun Erigaisi and others fading this year, he’s India’s lone warrior. A black swan event, like Keymer blitzing Doha or Wesley So surging, could dash hopes, though Pragg’s lead feels the Indian flag is ready to rise high. Will it be an all-Indian showdown next year? Only time will tell, till then, stay tuned!
Also read: Three-Year-Old Sarwagya Kushwaha Becomes Youngest FIDE-Rated Player
