FIDE Candidates 2026: Full List of Round 3 Pairings, Key Matches, Players

The FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026, underway in Cyprus, enters a critical phase as Round 3 pairings were officially released on Tuesday. With the winner of both the Open and Women's sections earning the right to challenge for the World Championship title, the eight-player double round-robin events are already generating global excitement.

After two rounds featuring several hard-fought draws, the field remains tightly packed, setting the stage for decisive encounters starting at 15:30 local time (UTC+3).

In the Open section, co-leaders Praggnanandhaa R of India and Javokhir Sindarov of Uzbekistan, both on 1.5/2 points, face off in what promises to be a generational showdown between two 20-year-old prodigies. Fabiano Caruana, the American veteran,

meets China's Wei Yi in a battle of elite tacticians, while Hikaru Nakamura of the United States squares off against the Netherlands' Anish Giri. Germany's Matthias Bluebaum completes the round against Russia's Andrey Esipenko.

The Women's Candidates is equally compelling, with two Indian players in the spotlight. Vaishali Rameshbabu takes on Ukraine's Anna Muzychuk, while Divya Deshmukh faces Russia's Aleksandra Goryachkina. China's Zhu Jiner meets Kazakhstan's Bibisara Assaubayeva, and compatriot Tan Zhongyi battles Ukraine's Kateryna Lagno.

These matchups come as the tournament, hosted at the Cap St. Georges Hotel & Resort, continues to showcase the best talent in world chess. Live commentary by Grandmasters Peter Svidler and Jan Gustafsson will be available on FIDE's official channels, with individual board streams for fans worldwide.

Round 3 | Pairings | FIDE Candidates & Women's Candidates 2026

FIDE Candidates ♟️
🇩🇪 Matthias Bluebaum — Andrey Esipenko
🇮🇳 Praggnanandhaa R — Javokhir Sindarov 🇺🇿
🇺🇸 Fabiano Caruana — Wei Yi 🇨🇳
🇺🇸 Hikaru Nakamura — Anish Giri 🇳🇱

FIDE Women’s Candidates ♟️
🇮🇳 Vaishali… pic.twitter.com/a2oAIHXZgl

- International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) March 31, 2026

Full Round 3 Pairings: FIDE Candidates 2026

Matthias Bluebaum (GER) - Andrey Esipenko

Praggnanandhaa R (IND) - Javokhir Sindarov (UZB)

Fabiano Caruana (USA) - Wei Yi (CHN)

Hikaru Nakamura (USA) - Anish Giri (NED) FIDE Women's Candidates 2026

Vaishali Rameshbabu (IND) - Anna Muzychuk (UKR)

Aleksandra Goryachkina - Divya Deshmukh (IND)

Zhu Jiner (CHN) - Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ)

Tan Zhongyi (CHN) - Kateryna Lagno