Will Praggnanand become Gukesh’s challenger in the Candidates Tournament 2026? World number-1 Magnus Carlsen made a big claim
Magnus Carlsen on 2026 Candidates Tournament: Magnus Carlsen, world number-1 and five-time world chess champion, has given a big statement regarding the 2026 Candidates Tournament. According to Carlson, Indian Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa (R Praggnanandhaa) is the third strongest contender to win this prestigious tournament. Carlson said that Praggnanandhaa has a good chance to win the title, but he is still a little behind the two American players. According to him, Hikaru Nakamura and Fabiano Caruana are the biggest favorites of this tournament.
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The Candidates Tournament is considered the most important event in the world of chess, because its winner challenges the current World Champion. Currently the world champion of India D. Gukesh Are. The 2026 Candidates Tournament will start from March 28 in Cyprus, in which the world’s top eight players will participate. Praggnanandha is the only Indian player among them.
“American players are favourites”
In an interview given to Chess.com, Carlsen said, “Like last time, this time too the American players are favourites. After him, Praggnanandhan is at number three. There is a clear difference between these three and the other players.” He described China’s Wei Yi as a strong player, but also said that it would be difficult for him to register consecutive wins to win the tournament.
Apart from Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana and Praggnanandhaa, Anish Giri of Netherlands, Matthias Blubaum of Germany, Javokhir Sindarov of Uzbekistan, Wei Yi of China and Andrei Esipenko of Russia will participate in this tournament.
Carlsen also mentioned Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigasi
Carlsen also talked about the players who could not qualify. He said that some players like Germany’s Vincent Keimer were deserving of a place among the candidates. He also mentioned Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaysi, who will have to wait for more opportunities.
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