Anish Giri Predicts Candidates 2026 Venue Wrong

Anish Giri and other top chess players, including Viswanathan Anand and Levon Aronian, were asked about the location of the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026.

What happened?

The players gave various predictions, with Anish Giri claiming inside information and saying it would be in London.

Why it matters for Anish Giri

Anish Giri has already qualified for the Candidates tournament, along with Fabiano Caruana, Matthias Bluebaum, and Hikaru Nakamura. The tournament will be held in Cyprus, as revealed by FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich.

What comes next?

The Candidates tournament is scheduled to take place from March 28 to April 16, 2026, at the Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort near Paphos, on Cyprus's south-western coast. Anish Giri will compete against other top players for a spot in the World Championship. The Indian chess federation had expressed interest in hosting the prestigious event. The Women's Candidates tournament winner will challenge China's Ju Wenjun for the Women's World Championship. Anish Giri's prediction was incorrect, but he will still be a strong contender in the tournament. The FIDE World Cup is currently taking place in Goa, bringing together top chess players from around the world. As of the latest update, Anish Giri is preparing for the upcoming tournament. The Candidates tournament will be an important step for Anish Giri in his pursuit of the World Championship title.