FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026

Round 9

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Round 9 Challenges

Rd9 Challenge 1: Attack Bluebaum's King

Sindarov made a rare mistake, missing 24. ...Qb7! Can you win from this position? (Bluebaum—Sindarov)

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Rd9 Challenge 2: Grind like Giri

Giri strategically outplayed Fabi and eventually won, ending the American's hopes. Can you convert this position? (Caruana—Giri)

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Rd9 Challenge 3: Walk Pragg's Tightrope

Pragg couldn't quite convert, missing 42.b4! Can you walk the tightrope after this move? (Praggnanandhaa—Wei)

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Round 8 Challenges

Rd8 Challenge 1: Hikaru's Technique

Fabi blundered and it became "a matter of technique" for Hikaru to convert. Can you finish the job? (Nakamura—Caruana)

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Rd8 Challenge 2: Press like Lagno

Black didn't take on e5 when she could have. Try to press the advantage with White. (Lagno—Goryachkina)

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Rd8 Challenge 3: Knights over Bishops

Black has two knights and an extra pawn versus two bishops. Use them to win like Zhu did! (Tan–Zhu)

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Round 4 Challenges

Rd4 Challenge 1: Sindarov's Breakthrough

Can you break through against Black's damaged structure? (Sindarov—Caruana)

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Rd4 Challenge 2: Convert Like Zhu

Black is two pawns up. Deal with the light square pressure and convert the win. (Deshmukh—Zhu)

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Rd4 Challenge 3: Giri's Wandering King

Black has long-term advantages, but can you consolidate and win? (Esipenko—Giri)

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Round 3 Challenges

Rd3 Challenge 1: Convert Fabi's Win

Black resigned here, but could you convert White's win if you had to?

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Rd3 Challenge 2: Take Down Pragg

Can you crash through like Sindarov did against Pragg?

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Rd3 Challenge 3: Bibisara's Attack

Bibisara navigated the complications to take the full point. Try to win with Black!

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Round 2 Challenges

Rd2 Challenge 1: Defend like Hikaru

Can you hold the position like Hikaru did?

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Rd2 Challenge 2: Hold off Pragg's French

Can you defend the White side after some inaccuracies in the French?

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Rd2 Challenge 3: Be like Bluebaum

Bluebaum had less space, but held the draw anyway. Try to do the same.

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Round 1 Challenges

Rd1 Challenge 1: Can you convert Sindarov vs. Esipenko?

Esipenko (Black) just blundered with 31. ...Qc6??. Can you convert the win like Sindarov did?

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Rd1 Challenge 2: Win like Pragg

Praggnanandhaa took advantage of Giri's mistake to take home the full point. Can you do the same?

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Rd1 Challenge 3: Take down Hikaru

Fabi has built up a nice advantage against Hikaru, but how do you break through?

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Maia Chess

Rd9 Challenge 1: Attack Bluebaum's King

Rd9 Challenge 2: Grind like Giri

Rd9 Challenge 3: Walk Pragg's Tightrope

Rd8 Challenge 1: Hikaru's Technique

Rd8 Challenge 2: Press like Lagno

Rd8 Challenge 3: Knights over Bishops

Rd4 Challenge 1: Sindarov's Breakthrough

Rd4 Challenge 2: Convert Like Zhu

Rd4 Challenge 3: Giri's Wandering King

Rd3 Challenge 1: Convert Fabi's Win

Rd3 Challenge 2: Take Down Pragg

Rd3 Challenge 3: Bibisara's Attack

Rd2 Challenge 1: Defend like Hikaru

Rd2 Challenge 2: Hold off Pragg's French

Rd2 Challenge 3: Be like Bluebaum

Rd1 Challenge 1: Can you convert Sindarov vs. Esipenko?

Rd1 Challenge 2: Win like Pragg

Rd1 Challenge 3: Take down Hikaru