FIDE Women's Candidates 2026: Schedule, participants, matchups, all you need to know
Both Open and Women’s Candidates matches will begin on March 28th.
The FIDE Women’s Candidates 2026 is set to take place in Pegeia, Cyprus, from March 28 to April 16. This elite tournament will determine who challenges Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun for the ultimate title later this year.
For the first time since 2024, the Women’s Candidates will be organised alongside the Open Candidates under one roof on the same dates.
What: FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament
Where: Cap St Georges Hotel and Resort, Pegeia, Cyprus
When: March 28 – April 16
Who: Zhu Jiner, Goryachkina, Divya Deshmukh, Tan Zhongyi, Vaishali Rameshbabu, Kateryna Lagno, Bibisara Assaubayeva, Anna Muzychuk
Why: The winner will challenge World Champion Ju Wenjun for the title
Women’s FIDE Candidates 2026 Participants
Zhu Jiner (China, 2578, World No. 2) – qualified as the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2024-25 winner. The highest-rated player in the field and the leading favourite despite being a Candidates debutant.
Aleksandra Goryachkina (FIDE, 2534, World No. 7) – qualified as the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2024-25 runner-up. A former World Championship challenger with invaluable Candidates experience.
Divya Deshmukh (India, 2497, World No. 12) – qualified as the Women’s Chess World Cup 2025 winner. At 20 years old, India’s rising star makes her Candidates debut.
Tan Zhongyi (China, 2535, World No. 6) – qualified as the Women’s Chess World Cup 2025 third-place finisher. The only former Women’s World Champion in the field (2017-2018).
Vaishali Rameshbabu (India, 2470, World No. 18) – qualified as the FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss Tournament 2025 winner. The 24-year-old sister of Praggnanandhaa makes her second appearance at the Candidates.
Kateryna Lagno (FIDE, 2508, World No. 10) – qualified as the FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss Tournament 2025 runner-up. An experienced campaigner with strong tournament credentials.
Bibisara Assaubayeva (Kazakhstan, 2516, World No. 9) – qualified via the FIDE Women’s Events 2024-25. At 22 years old, she’s a dangerous floater in this competitive field.
Anna Muzychuk (FIDE, 2522, World No. 8) – replacement for Koneru Humpy, who withdrew citing safety concerns amid the West Asia conflict. Muzychuk was the next highest-scoring player in the FIDE Women’s Events Series.
Eight players will compete for a share of the prize fund with a minimum of €300,000.
Tournament format and regulations
The tournament follows an eight-player, double round-robin format spanning 14 rounds. The time control is 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, then 30 minutes for the rest of the game, plus a 30-second increment per move starting from move 41.
Tiebreak procedures mirror the Open section, with rapid games followed by blitz games if necessary.
Indian representation
India has two representatives in the Women’s section: Divya Deshmukh, who won the Women’s World Cup 2025, and Vaishali Rameshbabu, sister of Praggnanandhaa. This marks a historic moment for Indian chess, with siblings competing in both Candidates tournaments simultaneously for the second consecutive Candidates.
Koneru Humpy withdrawal and safety measures
India’s Koneru Humpy withdrew from the tournament a week before it began, citing safety concerns in Cyprus due to the ongoing Iran conflict.
“After deep reflection, I have taken the difficult decision to withdraw. No event, no matter how important, can come before personal safety and well-being,” she stated.
In response, FIDE outlined comprehensive safety measures: “Cyprus is a safe country to travel. As a precautionary measure, the hotel is equipped with its own shelter facilities and backup power systems. While such scenarios are purely theoretical, appropriate infrastructure is in place to ensure the safety of all participants.”
FIDE Women’s Candidates 2026 schedule
The opening ceremony takes place on Saturday, March 28. Round 1 begins on Sunday, March 29 at 3:30 PM local time. The tournament shares the same schedule as the Open section, with rest days on April 2, April 6, April 10, and April 13.
The final round is scheduled for Wednesday, April 15, with potential tiebreaks on April 15 and the closing ceremony on Thursday, April 16.
Where and when will FIDE Women’s Candidates 2026 take place?
The tournament will be held at the Cap St Georges Hotel and Resort, Pegeia, Cyprus from March 28 to April 16.
Which Indian players are participating at FIDE Women’s Candidates 2026?
Reigning World Cup champion Divya Deshmukh and Vaishali Rameshbabu are the two Indian participants in the competition.
Who are other participants at FIDE Women’s Candidates 2026?
Zhu Jiner, Goryachkina, Tan Zhongyi, Kateryna Lagno, Bibisara Assaubayeva, Anna Muzychuk
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Ansh is a sports content creator and aspiring data scientist with a focus on Olympic sports like badminton and chess. A state-level badminton player and 1900+ rated chess enthusiast, his content has been reshared by top athletes including HS Prannoy and Vidit Gujrathi. Follow Ansh for the latest updates on your favorite sports!