Andrey Esipenko: Profile, Rating & Road to Candidates 2026
Andrey Esipenko (FIDE 2695) is the Russian GM who beat Magnus Carlsen in classical chess at 18. He qualifies for Candidates 2026 in Paphos. Full profile on Shatranj Live.
9 min read
Chess Guides & Player Profiles
Tournament recaps, player profiles, and FIDE insights — updated as the chess calendar moves.
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Kateryna Lagno: The Most Experienced Player in the Women's Candidates 2026
Kateryna Lagno, GM and Women's World Rapid Champion, brings more Candidates experience than any other player to Paphos in March 2026. Full profile, rating, and career.
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Matthias Bluebaum: FIDE Rating, Profile & 2026 Candidates
Matthias Bluebaum is Germany's top-rated GM at 2678, and the lowest-rated player in the 2026 Candidates field. Can he pull off the upset in Paphos? Full profile.
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Tan Zhongyi: Women's World Champion Returns at Candidates 2026
Tan Zhongyi, China's 2017 Women's World Chess Champion, heads to the 2026 Women's Candidates in Paphos. Profile, rating, career, and what to expect.
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Viswanathan Anand: Five-Time World Chess Champion, India's Tiger of Madras
Viswanathan Anand (FIDE 2750, FIDE Deputy President) is India's first Grandmaster and a five-time World Chess Champion. Full career profile, championship history, and legacy on Shatranj Live.
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Who Will Win the Candidates Tournament 2026?
Our full prediction for the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament. Nakamura leads the field at 2811, but Caruana and Pragg are ready to push. Our pick inside.
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Aleksandra Goryachkina: FIDE Profile & Women's Candidates 2026
Aleksandra Goryachkina, GM and 2020 WCC finalist, returns to the Women's Candidates 2026. Full FIDE profile, rating, career stats.
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Arjun Erigaisi: Why He Missed Candidates 2026
Arjun Erigaisi missed the Candidates 2026 after exiting the 2025 FIDE World Cup at the quarterfinals. Here's how qualification works and what's next for India's #2.
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![Candidates 2026 Round [N] Results: [HEADLINE RESULT — e.g. Caruana Leads After First Day]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/Praggnanandhaa_in_2025.jpg)
Candidates 2026 Round [N] Results: [HEADLINE RESULT — e.g. Caruana Leads After First Day]
Round [N] of the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 in Cyprus. [KEY RESULT — 1 sentence]. [INDIA RESULT — 1 sentence]. Live standings at Shatranj Live.
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China at Candidates 2026: Zhu Jiner and Tan Zhongyi's Full Schedule
China's Zhu Jiner and Tan Zhongyi at the Women's Candidates 2026 in Cyprus. Full round-by-round pairings vs India's trio. Tournament starts March 29.
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How Gukesh Became World Chess Champion at 18
Gukesh Dommaraju defeated Ding Liren 7.5–6.5 in Singapore on December 12, 2024, to become the youngest World Chess Champion in history at 18 years and 6 months old. A single blunder on move 55 of Game 14 ended Ding's title defence.
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India at Candidates 2026: Pragg, Vaishali, Humpy and Divya's Mission in Cyprus
India fields 4 players at Candidates 2026, Pragg in the open, Vaishali, Humpy and Divya in women's. Paphos, Cyprus. March 29 to April 15.
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India's Chess Golden Generation: How One Country Took Over the World
India won Olympiad double gold in 2024, produced the youngest World Chess Champion in history, and sends 4 players to Candidates 2026. The full story.
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Is Magnus Carlsen in the Candidates Tournament 2026?
Magnus Carlsen is not playing in the Candidates Tournament 2026. Here's why the world's top-rated player is absent, who qualified instead, and what it means for the World Chess Championship cycle.
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Caruana and Nakamura at Candidates 2026: USA's Full Schedule
Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura represent USA at Candidates 2026 in Cyprus. Full round-by-round pairings, schedules, and WCC 2026 stakes. Live on Shatranj Live.
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Wei Yi: FIDE Profile, Rating & Candidates 2026
Wei Yi chess profile: FIDE rating ~2746, 2025 World Cup finalist, and China's Candidates 2026 qualifier. Follow his run live at Shatranj Live.
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Anish Giri: FIDE Profile, Rating & Candidates 2026
Anish Giri profile: ~2760 FIDE rating, 2025 Grand Swiss winner, and Candidates 2026 participant. Faces Praggnanandhaa in Round 1. Follow live on Shatranj Live.
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Candidates Tournament 2026: Complete Guide — Players, Standings, Prize Fund & Schedule
The definitive reference for the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026. Players, ratings, round schedule, prize fund breakdown, historical winners, tiebreak rules, and how to follow live standings.
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Candidates Tournament 2026 Pairings: All 14 Rounds
Complete round-by-round pairings for the 2026 FIDE Candidates in Cyprus. Caruana vs Nakamura in Round 1. Full schedule for Open and Women's sections. Starts March 29.
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FIDE Rating System Explained: How Elo Works, K-Factors, and Title Norms
How the FIDE chess rating system works: Elo calculations, K-factors by rating range, GM and IM title norms, rating floors, and what the numbers actually mean. With data tables and worked examples.
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How to Follow Live Chess Tournaments: Platforms, Tools, and What to Watch
A practical guide to following elite chess tournaments live — what platforms to use, how to read standings, what the moves mean, and where to find results for the Candidates, Tata Steel, Norway Chess, and more.
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India at Candidates 2026: Pragg, Humpy, Vaishali and Divya's Full Schedule
Round-by-round schedule for all four Indian players at the 2026 FIDE Candidates. Pragg faces Caruana in Rounds 7 and 13. Six India vs India women's games. Starts March 29.
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India National Rapid Chess Championship 2026: Results & Standings
Live results and standings from the National Rapid Chess Championship 2025-26 in Ranchi. 450+ players compete for India's domestic rapid crown and Rs 6 lakh prize fund.
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Zhu Jiner: Profile, Rating & Women's Candidates 2026
Zhu Jiner enters Women's Candidates 2026 as top seed with a 2578 FIDE rating. China's rising star faces Tan Zhongyi in Round 1. Full profile on Shatranj Live.
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FIDE Candidates Tournament History: Every Winner Since 1950
Every Candidates Tournament winner from 1950 to 2024, from Bronstein to Gukesh. Full history, format changes, and what to expect from the 2026 Candidates in Cyprus.
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Chess Tournament Formats Explained: Swiss, Round Robin, Knockout
Swiss system, round robin, knockout, and Armageddon tiebreaks explained. Which format does the Candidates Tournament use? Everything chess fans need to know.
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Chess Week in Review: Abdusattorov's Hat-Trick, Gukesh's Struggles, and the American Cup Finals
Abdusattorov wins Prague Masters for a 3rd straight supertournament title. Gukesh finishes last. American Cup Grand Final set. FIDE March 2026 ratings: India drops.
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Fabiano Caruana: FIDE Rating, Profile & Career
Fabiano Caruana is World No. 3 with a 2795 FIDE rating. The 2018 WCC challenger and 2024 FIDE Circuit winner returns to the 2026 Candidates Tournament. Full profile.
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Hikaru Nakamura: FIDE Rating, Profile & Career
Hikaru Nakamura is ranked World No. 2 with a 2811 FIDE rating. The 6x US Champion competes at the 2026 Candidates Tournament in Cyprus. Full profile on Shatranj Live.
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Magnus Carlsen: FIDE Rating, Profile & Career | Shatranj Live
Magnus Carlsen's FIDE rating, peak 2882, World Championship record, and 2026 status. The greatest chess player of all time, tracked live on Shatranj Live.
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Shatranj: The Ancient Origins of Modern Chess
The word "chess" traces back to Shatranj, the Persian name for a game invented in India. Here is the full story of how chess traveled from the Gupta Empire to the world.
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Shatranj Meaning: Why India Calls Chess Shatranj
Shatranj (शतरंज) is the Hindi and Urdu word for chess, tracing back to Sanskrit chaturanga. How the word survived 1,400 years while English forgot its roots.
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American Cup 2026 Finals: Caruana vs So Today
Caruana leads So 1-0 in the American Cup 2026 Open final. Yip vs Lee tied in the Women's final. Both Game 2s play today in Saint Louis. Full bracket recap.
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Best Sites for Live Chess Tournament Updates 2026
Chess.com, Lichess, 2700chess, and Shatranj Live each serve different needs. For real-time FIDE standings with no signup, here's what to use in 2026.
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Hou Yifan: Profile, Rating & Career | Shatranj Live
Hou Yifan (peak 2686) won 4 Women's World Championships, became a Rhodes Scholar, and is now a professor. She is still the world's highest-rated female player in 2026.
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India Women Chess 2026: Three in the Candidates
India has 3 of 8 Women's Candidates spots in 2026: Humpy, Vaishali, Divya. On International Women's Day, the story of how India built its women's chess generation.
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Ju Wenjun: Profile, Rating & Career | Shatranj Live
Ju Wenjun has defended the Women's World Chess title five times. FIDE 2559, world #2-3. The Candidates 2026 winner will challenge her. Full career profile on Shatranj Live.
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Judit Polgar: Chess Career, Rating & Legacy
Judit Polgar peaked at 2735, reached world #8, and beat Kasparov. The Netflix doc 'Queen of Chess' (2026) tells her story. Full career profile on Shatranj Live.
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Koneru Humpy: Profile, Rating & Career | Shatranj Live
Koneru Humpy (FIDE 2535, world #5) won Women's World Rapid 2019 and 2024. India's first female GM at 15. Women's Candidates 2026 participant. Full career profile.
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Top Women Chess Players in the World 2026
Hou Yifan leads the FIDE women's rankings in 2026, followed by Zhu Jiner and Ju Wenjun. India has three players in the top 15. Full rankings and profiles on Shatranj Live.
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Arjun Erigaisi: Profile, Rating & Career
Arjun Erigaisi (FIDE 2763, world #11) crossed 2800 in Dec 2024, second Indian after Anand. Born 2003, GM at 15. Full career profile on Shatranj Live.
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Divya Deshmukh: Profile, Rating & Career
Divya Deshmukh won Women's World Cup 2025 at 19, the youngest winner in tournament history. India's 88th GM, Women's Candidates 2026. Full profile on Shatranj Live.
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India FIDE March 2026: Arjun #11, Gukesh Sole Top 10
Arjun drops #5 to #11, Pragg #8 to #13 after Tata Steel losses. Gukesh sole Indian in FIDE top 10. India's full March 2026 chess rankings on Shatranj Live.
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Javokhir Sindarov: Profile, Rating & Career
Sindarov finished 2nd at Tata Steel 2026 with 8.5/13 and a 2833 performance rating. Uzbekistan's next elite GM, Candidates 2026 participant. Full profile on Shatranj Live.
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Nodirbek Abdusattorov: Profile, Rating & Career
Abdusattorov (FIDE 2771, world #5) won Tata Steel 2026 and Prague Masters 2026 in 30 days. Born 2004 in Tashkent, GM at 13. Full career profile on Shatranj Live.
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Praggnanandhaa: Profile, Rating & Career
Praggnanandhaa (FIDE 2741, world #13) won Tata Steel 2024 and 2025 back-to-back. GM at 12. World Cup 2023 finalist. Full career profile on Shatranj Live.
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Prague Challengers 2026: Finek Wins, Divya Deshmukh 3rd
16-year-old IM Václav Fínek won Prague Challengers 2026 with 6.5/9, beating a field of GMs. Divya Deshmukh 3rd. Full final standings on Shatranj Live.
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Prague Masters 2026: Abdusattorov Wins, Gukesh Finishes Last
Abdusattorov wins Prague Masters 2026 with 6/9 for his 2nd supertournament title in 30 days. Gukesh last. Aravindh 3rd. Full final standings on Shatranj Live.
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Vaishali Rameshbabu: Profile, Rating & Career
Vaishali Rameshbabu won Women's Grand Swiss 2023 and 2025, the only player to defend the title. Pragg's sister, GM 2024. Women's Candidates 2026 profile on Shatranj Live.
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Aarav Dengla: India's 93rd Grandmaster
Aarav Dengla from Mumbai became India's 93rd Grandmaster in February 2026. The 17-year-old trained alongside Gukesh, took a gap year for chess, his story here.
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Aravindh Chithambaram: Profile, Rating & Career
Aravindh Chithambaram (FIDE 2700+) won Prague Masters 2025 and beat Gukesh at Prague 2026. India's rising GM from Tamil Nadu. Full profile on Shatranj Live.
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Candidates Tournament 2026: Players, Format & Schedule
The FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 starts March 28 in Cyprus. Eight players compete for the right to face World Champion Gukesh. India sends Pragg, plus three women. Follow live on Shatranj Live.
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Chess February 2026: Tata Steel, Carlsen's 21st, India Top 10
Abdusattorov wins Tata Steel 9/13. Carlsen claims his 21st world title. India holds world #5, #8, #9. Full chess February 2026 recap on Shatranj Live.
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Gukesh Dommaraju: World Chess Champion
Gukesh Dommaraju (FIDE 2754) is the youngest World Chess Champion in history. Full profile: rating, career records, WCC 2024 win, and upcoming 2026 title defence.
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Gukesh's Prague Slump: What It Means for WCC 2026
Gukesh Dommaraju is last at Prague 2026, 6 losses in his last 10 classical games. What does this form dip mean for his World Championship defence later in 2026?
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India at Tata Steel 2026: How All Four Players Performed
Gukesh 8th, Pragg 11th, Arjun and Aravindh 12th. India sent four players to Tata Steel 2026. None finished in the top 5. The full analysis on Shatranj Live.
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Jorden van Foreest: Profile, Rating & Career
Jorden van Foreest (FIDE 2729) leads Prague Masters 2026 unbeaten after 7 rounds. Dutch GM, Tata Steel 2021 winner, top-20 player. Full profile on Shatranj Live.
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Nihal Sarin: Profile, FIDE Rating & Career
Nihal Sarin (FIDE 2716, world #26) won Tata Steel Chess India Rapid 2026 with a 2839 TPR. Kerala GM, trained by Anand. Full profile and career on Shatranj Live.
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Prague Chess Festival: History & Past Winners
The Prague International Chess Festival began in 2019. Every Masters winner from Vitiugov (2019) to Aravindh (2025), plus the 2026 edition in progress. Full history.
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Prague Chess Festival 2026: Masters Standings
Prague Chess Festival 2026 Masters: Van Foreest leads at 4.5/7 with two rounds left. Abdusattorov and Navara a half-point back. Gukesh and Aravindh for India. Live on Shatranj Live.
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What Is the FIDE Candidates Tournament? Format, History & How to Follow It
The Candidates Tournament is FIDE's World Chess Championship qualifier — 8 grandmasters, 14 rounds, double round-robin. Full format breakdown, qualification paths, history, and 2026 schedule.
5 min read