The chess world is abuzz with excitement as the 2026 Candidates Tournament approaches, particularly with the prospect of an all-Indian World Championship clash between current World Champion Gukesh D and R Praggnanandhaa. The Candidates Tournament, scheduled to take place from March 28 to April 16, 2026, at the Cap St Georges Hotel and Resort in Pegeia, Cyprus, will determine who gets to challenge Gukesh for the title.

Praggnanandhaa secured his spot in the Candidates by winning the FIDE Circuit 2025, a testament to his consistent performance throughout the year. His impressive run included victories at prestigious tournaments like the Tata Steel Chess Masters, Superbet Chess Classic Romania, UzChess Cup Masters, and London Chess Classic Open. He also finished second at the Stepan Avagyan Memorial and 12th at the Sinquefield Cup.

Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri, himself a participant in the Candidates Tournament, has weighed in on Praggnanandhaa's chances and the overall composition of the tournament. In an interview with TimesofIndia.com, Giri expressed surprise at the limited number of Indian players in the Candidates, noting that there could have easily been more. "You could have multiple Indian players, of course, easily. You could have many German players also easily, or many Russian players. But there is one German, one Russian, and only one Indian, which is quite surprising," Giri stated. He also acknowledged the presence of "one Indian in the World Championship title holder, right?".

Giri's presence in the Candidates adds another layer of intrigue. As the winner of the 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss, he is a formidable opponent. Giri entered the Grand Swiss as the 7th seed. Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura are also considered strong contenders. The final lineup includes Matthias Bluebaum, Javokhir Sindarov, Wei Yi, and Andrey Esipenko.

For Praggnanandhaa to set up a World Championship clash with Gukesh, he needs to win the Candidates Tournament. This will be no easy feat, as he will be facing some of the world's best players in a gruelling double round-robin tournament.

Gukesh D, the current World Champion, earned his title by defeating Ding Liren in the 2024 World Chess Championship. Gukesh is the youngest undisputed world champion in chess history, at 18 years old. He also became the youngest-ever Candidates Tournament winner in April 2024.

While Gukesh's recent performance at the Tata Steel Chess Masters 2026 raised some eyebrows, it's important to remember that he is still young and developing as a player. As one Reddit user pointed out, "Gukesh is still just 19. He is simply going to have ups and downs".

The possibility of a Gukesh vs. Praggnanandhaa World Championship match has captured the imagination of chess fans worldwide. It would be a historic event, marking the first time two Indian players have competed for the ultimate prize in chess. Whether Praggnanandhaa can navigate the challenges of the Candidates Tournament and earn the right to challenge Gukesh remains to be seen, but the prospect alone is generating tremendous excitement within the chess community.