Race For The Candidates: London Chess Classic Just Got Super-Charged

With the year drawing to a close, one thing is on the top GMs' minds: getting into the 2026 FIDE Candidates. GM Magnus Carlsen excluded, of course.

The Candidates is huge. Everyone wants to get there and win a shot at qualifying for the ultimate prize, the World Championship. Only through the Candidates can you rule the world. But first you've got to get there, and that's tough enough.

As time runs out before the January cut-off, five places remain up for grabs—well, not quite.

Three places will be locked down at the FIDE World Cup in Goa, India, which is happening right now. They will become clear when the tournament draws to a close before November 26.

Another spot, the rating spot, is practically nailed down by GM Hikaru Nakamura, who has been busy entering low-key tournaments to make sure he clocks up enough games to be eligible. The world number-two's rating on the October list was 2813, so he is almost uncatchable.

Circuit-Breaker

That leaves just one spot to go for: the 2025 FIDE Circuit spot.

As it stands, GM Praggnanandhaa R is way out in front and virtually assured of his place.

But if "Pragg" bags a place via the World Cup in his home country (which seems very possible), then the FIDE Circuit place becomes vacant. With the second and third names (GMs Anish Girl and Matthias Bluebaum) on the Circuit table already qualified, it blows the whole thing wide open. The race is on.

Enter the XTX Markets London Chess Classic. According to FIDE's rules, there are only a few events left before the end of the year where Circuit points can be earned. The Classic is one of them.

Hunting Points

With its line-up being finalized, two big names have jumped in to book their spots, almost certainly in the hope of amassing enough Circuit points to get to the Candidates.

They are GMs Alireza Firouzja and Nodirbek Abdusattorov, two of the most exciting young talents in chess.

The London Chess Classic is one of only a few eligible tournaments where players can pick up Circuit points left in the year. The others include the 2025 US Masters, the President Cup in Uzbekistan and the 2025 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships in Doha.

What's more, the Classic is potentially three qualifying events in one, with the London Chess Classic Super Rapidplay and its open event also listed as provisional Circuit events.

Firouzja and Abdusattorov can enter the Classic's Elite event then play the Super Rapidplay to rack up more points. Abdusattorov is currently 17th on the Circuit leaderboard, so needs to motor.

All of this may be academic by then, of course, if either win a place via the World Cup. But they can't put all their eggs in that basket.

It's all good news for the London Chess Classic and its organizers, the charity Chess in Schools and Communities

The eight names previously announced on the Classic's line-up, which we wrote about in this preview here, were considered strong, but not quite the ultra elite of world chess.

Now the event has been super-charged, not just with two amazing GMs, but with potentially some serious competition beyond its prestige and prize money.

London is calling. We can't wait!