Matthias Bluebaum qualifies for the Candidates

German Grandmaster Matthias Bluebaum has made history by qualifying for the Candidates Chess 2026 after finishing second at the 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss with 7.5/11 points. His strong performance not only secured him a coveted Candidates spot but also marked a milestone for German chess, as he becomes the first player from the country to reach this stage since Robert Hübner in 1991. Bluebaum, who has steadily climbed the world rankings over the past few years, is now set to compete against the world’s elite for the chance to challenge the reigning World Champion.

Grand Swiss information: FIDE Grand Swiss Chess Tournament 2025 – A Gateway to the World Championship
Grand Swiss Live: FIDE Grand Swiss Chess 2025 live / Women’s Grand Swiss Chess 2025 live
Grand Swiss Participants: Participants open / Participants women

Round 1: Multiple surprises on the board
Round 2: Maghsoodloo, Firouzja, and Demchenko lead Grand Swiss 2025
Round 3: Parham Maghsoodloo is sole leader of Grand Swiss 2025 after R3
Round 4: Parham Maghsoodloo continues to lead the Grand Swiss, 13 players share second
Round 5: Parham Maghsoodloo continues leading the Grand Swiss, as Abhimanyu Mishra stuns the World Champion
Round 6: Anish Giri leaps to shared second, eyeing Candidates 2026 spot
Round 7: Nihal Sarin and Matthias Bluebaum are co-leaders after round 7 of the FIDE Grand Swiss
Round 8: Nihal Sarin and Matthias Bluebaum lead the Grand Swiss, Keymer inches in to the top
Round 9: Matthias Bluebaum, Alireza Firouzja, Vincent Keymer, and Anish Giri in pole position for Candidates 2026
Round 10: Five share the lead before the final round of the Grand Swiss
Round 11: Anish Giri qualifies to Candidates 2026