Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort Honours the Winners of the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026
Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort is proud to honour the winners of the Open and Women’s categories of the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026, Javokhir Sindarov and Vaishali Rameshbabu respectively, in recognition of their outstanding achievement in one of the most prestigious competitions in world chess. A memorable success, inspired by the positive energy and distinctive atmosphere of Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort and the genuine hospitality of its people.
And there is something else equally impressive. The records breakers . Javokhir reached a total of 10 points out of possible 14,  marking the highest score ever recorded in this kind of tournament. Also, Javokhir registered the highest number of wins (6) scored in a single FIDE Candidates event featuring eight players in the specific format. At the same time, Vaishali became the first Indian ever to win the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament.
As a special and lasting tribute, the suites in which the two winners stayed during the tournament will bear their names, preserving the memory of a remarkable moment in the history of the event hosted in Paphos - Cyprus.

This gesture reflects the pride of Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort and Korantina Homes in hosting an event of such international significance and in celebrating the excellence, discipline and determination that define the game of chess at its highest level.

Javokhir Sindarov has been crowned the winner of the FIDE Candidates Tournament (Men’s), delivering an outstanding performance throughout the competition.

We are proud to have hosted this prestigious event over the past few weeks, welcoming the world’s top chess talents and celebrating excellence at the highest level.

(Open) FIDE Candidates
Andrey Esipenko 0—1 Fabiano Caruana
Praggnanandhaa R ½—½ Hikaru Nakamura
Matthias Bluebaum 0—1 Anish Giri
Javokhir Sindarov ½—½ Wei Yi

FIDE Women’s Candidates

Anna Muzychuk ½—½ Zhu Jiner
Aleksandra Goryachkina 1—0 Tan Zhongyi
Vaishali Rameshbabu 1—0 Kateryna Lagno
Divya Deshmukh ½—½ Bibisara Assaubayeva

(Open) FIDE Candidates

Anish Giri ½—½ Andrey Esipenko
Hikaru Nakamura ½—½ Wei Yi
Fabiano Caruana ½—½ Javokhir Sindarov
Praggnanandhaa R ½—½ Matthias Bluebaum

FIDE Women’s Candidates

Kateryna Lagno ½—½ Anna Muzychuk
Tan Zhongyi ½—½ Bibisara Assaubayeva
Zhu Jiner ½—½ Divya Deshmukh
Aleksandra Goryachkina 0—1 Vaishali Rameshbabu

(Open) FIDE Candidates

Fabiano Caruana ½—½ Andrey Esipenko
Hikaru Nakamura ½—½ Praggnanandhaa R
Anish Giri ½—½ Matthias Bluebaum
Wei Yi 0—1 Javokhir Sindarov

FIDE Women’s Candidates

Zhu Jiner 0—1 Anna Muzychuk
Tan Zhongyi ½—½ Aleksandra Goryachkina
Kateryna Lagno 0—1 Vaishali Rameshbabu
Bibisara Assaubayeva 0—1 Divya Deshmukh

(Open) FIDE Candidates

Andrey Esipenko 0—1 Anish Giri
Wei Yi ½—½ Hikaru Nakamura
Javokhir Sindarov 1—0 Fabiano Caruana
Matthias Bluebaum ½—½ Praggnanandhaa R

FIDE Women’s Candidates

Anna Muzychuk 1—0 Kateryna Lagno
Bibisara Assaubayeva ½—½ Tan Zhongyi
Divya Deshmukh 0—1 Zhu Jiner
Vaishali Rameshbabu ½—½ Aleksandra Goryachkina

(Open) FIDE Candidates

Andrey Esipenko ½—½ Hikaru Nakamura
Anish Giri ½—½ Fabiano Caruana
Wei Yi ½—½ Praggnanandhaa R
Javokhir Sindarov ½—½ Matthias Bluebaum

FIDE Women’s Candidates

Anna Muzychuk ½—½ Tan Zhongyi
Kateryna Lagno ½—½ Zhu Jiner
Bibisara Assaubayeva ½—½ Aleksandra Goryachkina
Divya Deshmukh ½—½ Vaishali Rameshbabu

The FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 will feature an exciting open-air Fan Zone, offering spectators a unique opportunity to engage with the world of elite chess. Running alongside the tournament from March 29, the Fan Zone will host daily activities including masterclasses, lectures, simultaneous exhibitions, and interactive discussions.

Fans will have the chance to meet Candidates players in person through Q&A sessions, autograph signings, and photo opportunities. The programme will also include appearances by renowned chess figures such as Viswanathan Anand, Alexandra Kosteniuk, Nigel Short, Boris Gelfand, and Victor Bologan, alongside educational talks from leading experts.

With activities designed for all ages—ranging from children’s sessions to insights on strategy, mathematics, and technology—the Fan Zone will serve as a vibrant hub for players, fans, and the wider chess community. Events are scheduled on most days from 16:00, with more announcements to follow.

We are delighted to announce that on 28 March 2026, Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort will proudly host the Official Opening Ceremony of the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 and the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026.

The FIDE Candidates is one of the most prestigious events in world chess, bringing together elite grandmasters who will compete for the chance to challenge for the World Chess Championship. This year’s tournaments will take place at our resort from 28 March to 16 April 2026, marking an important milestone both for Cyprus and the global chess community.

Set against the breathtaking coastline of Paphos, Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort offers the perfect blend of luxury, tranquility, and sophistication — an ideal setting for hosting such a high-profile international event. We look forward to welcoming distinguished guests, officials, players, and media for an unforgettable opening night and an exceptional tournament ahead.

We are honoured to announce that the Official Draw Ceremony for the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 will take place on Tuesday, 17 February 2026 at 17:00, at Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort in Paphos.

Two years after Toronto, Canada (2024), where the official title challengers were determined, and following Singapore, where history was written with the crowning of the new World Champions, the baton of world chess now passes to Cyprus. The awarding of this prestigious tournament constitutes the highest level of international recognition and confirms our country’s dynamic presence on the global sporting and cultural stage.