The road to challenging World Champion D Gukesh begins on March 28, and while all eyes are on the chessboard, the surrounding atmosphere is getting tense. Five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand has weighed in on the prospects of India’s sole Open-section representative, R Praggnanandhaa, noting that while the 20-year-old’s recent results might suggest a "slowdown," his mental preparation is likely reaching its zenith just in time for the FIDE Candidates 2026.
The tournament, set to take place at the St. Georges Hotel & Resort in Cyprus, finds itself under a cloud of geopolitical concern. Despite a drone strike on a nearby British airbase on March 1 and the proximity to the West Asia conflict, FIDE officials, including Anand, are standing firm on the choice of venue.
Anand’s assessment of "Pragg" is tilted more towards the psychology of the sport. He suggests that the young Grandmaster may have intentionally or naturally tapered his competitive intensity to conserve mental energy for the grueling double round-robin format.
He has slowed down a little bit in the last few months, but maybe mentally he is already peaking and getting ready for the Candidates. He’s experienced, but at the same time, he looks very motivated.Viswanathan Anand
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Start Date | March 28, 2026 |
| Venue | St. Georges Hotel & Resort, Cyprus |
| Open Section Favorite(s) | Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura, Anish Giri |
| Sole Indian (Open) | R Praggnanandhaa |
| Women's Section Indians | Divya Deshmukh, R Vaishali (Koneru Humpy TBC) |
| The Prize | A match against World Champion D Gukesh |
The decision to host the event in Cyprus has sparked a significant debate regarding player safety. With the island's proximity to active conflict zones in Lebanon and Israel, Indian stalwart Koneru Humpy has signaled a likely withdrawal from the Women’s section, citing security risks.
Anand, however, defended FIDE’s logistical planning, emphasizing that the high-quality setting will eventually allow players to "block out" the external noise once the first clocks start.
FIDE stance: CEO Emil Sutovsky confirmed there are no plans to change the venue, stating that Cyprus is not directly involved in the war.
Precedent: Players are being kept informed, with FIDE aiming to replicate the high standards of previous marquee events.
While cheering for Pragg, Anand was candid about the "heavyweight" pressure facing the field's veterans. He identified Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura, and Anish Giri as players who will enter Cyprus with a "now or never" mentality.
I think Fabi, Hikaru, Anish… this has got to be their time. They will have that feeling going into it that this is a chance to grab. But I can’t for the life of me get around to predicting someone.Viswanathan Anand
D Gukesh: This is the first time a Candidates winner will challenge an Indian World Champion (D Gukesh).
Pragg's age: At just 20, Praggnanandhaa is already considered an "experienced" veteran of the elite circuit.
Security alert: A drone strike on a British airbase on March 1 in Cyprus remains the primary cause for Koneru Humpy's hesitation.
Women's representation: Despite Humpy's potential absence, India remains strong with R Vaishali and Divya Deshmukh in the mix.