Which players earned spots to Candidates 2026 through FIDE Chess World Cup?

India’s Praggnanandhaa has also qualified for the Candidates 2026.

Javokhir Sindarov of Uzbekistan defeated China’s Wei Yi via tiebreak to lift the FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 title and also earn a prized ticket to the Candidates 2026 tournament. After both classical games ended in a draw in the final, the 19-year-old won the first rapid games tiebreak to secure the Viswanathan Anand Cup.

Joining him is also runner-up Wei Yi and third-placed Andrey Esipenko, who earned the remaining two Candidates places from the FIDE Chess World Cup 2025.

Let’s take a look at how all three players fared in the FIDE World Cup 2025.

#1 Javokhir Sindarov

On the basis of his world rank of 25, Javokhir Sindarov received a bye in the first round. He kicked off the tournament with a 1.5-0.5 victory over Nikita Petrov and beat Nikolas Theodorou 1.5-0.5 in the third round.

Thereafter, Sindarov secured a 2.5-1.5 victory against China’s Yu Yangyi. The Uzbek progressed to the quarter-finals after a 1.5-0.5 victory against Germany’s Frederik Svane. After beating Mexico’s José Martínez Alcántara 3.5-2.5, the 19-year-old reached the semis.

Sindarov’s both classical games against his compatriot Nodirbek Yakubboev ended in draws. Then, the tiebreaks were played between both players and with an aggregate score of 2.5-1.5, Sindarov qualified for the final.

It was the same story in his top two clash against Wei Yi as well, before he sealed it in the tiebreak 2.5-1.5.

Also Read: FIDE Chess World Cup 2025: All you need to know about prize money on offer

#2 Wei Yi

After receiving a bye in the first round, the World No. 11 Wei Yi prevailed 2-0 over Poland’s Kacper Piorun in the first round. He then beat Hungary’s Benjámin Gledura 2.5-1.5 and followed it up with a 5-3 win against Iran’s Parham Maghsoodloo.

In the fourth round, Yi registered a 1.5-0.5 victory over Samuel Sevian to progress to the quarter-finals. Then, he clinched a 2.5–1.5 win against Arjun Erigaisi to qualify for the semis.

The two classical games of Wei Yi’s semi-final clash against Andrey Esipenko ended in draws. As a result, the game went into tiebreaks, and Yi entered the final after a 2.5-1.5 victory.

#3 Andrey Esipenko

World No. 41, Andrey Esipenko also received a bye in the first round. He then opened his account with a dominating 2-0 victory against Azerbaijan’s Nijat Abasov. He then continued his momentum with a 3.5-2.5 victory against Iran’s Pouya Idani.

Then, the Russian handed a 4-2 loss to Germany’s Vincent Keymer and followed it up with a 2.5-1.5 victory against compatriot, Aleksey Grebnev. The quarter-finals witnessed him securing a 4-2 win over USA’s Sam Shankland.

After both classical games in the semi-finals were drawn, Andrey Esipenko sustained a 2.5-1.5 loss when the game went into tiebreaks.

However, Esipenko overcame the challenge of Nodirbek Yakubboev 2-0 in the third-place playoff match to qualify for the Candidates 2026.

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