Alexander Donchenko is just a step away from Candidates Chess 2026 (interview)
The FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 is an eight-player double round-robin chess tournament scheduled to take place between March 25 and May 1, 2026, to determine the challenger for the World Chess Championship 2026 against reigning champion D. Gukesh. Organized by the Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE), the tournament follows a revamped qualification system introduced in 2024, that follows a merit-based qualification pathways through major events, ratings, and the FIDE Circuit. Unlike any other Candidates Tournaments, there is no automatic spot for the runner-up of the previous Championship (Ding Liren).
Information: Candidates Chess 2026 information / Candidates 2026 in Cyprus
Candidates players: Fabiano Caruna, Hikaru Nakamura, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, Anish Giri and Matthias Bluebaum + 3 World Cup players
The Candidates 2026 field is shaping up to be a treat to the chess world, as we await the final three players to join the field. They will come from the FIDE World Chess Cup, where the competition has reached the quarterfinal. Jose Martinez Alcantara, Donchenko, Esipenko, Shankland, Sindarov, Yakubboev, Wei Yi, and Arjun Erigaisi will battle out for the final three spots.
Alexander Donchenko is having an exceptional tournament so far, having defeated three 2700 players. Donchenko was the final player to win his round 5 match and the final player to go to the quarterfinal of the FIDE World Chess Cup. Donchenko says, “Every World Cup game so far has been a roller-coaster and it is really hard to keep your composure.”
See what more Donchenko has to say after his round 5 victory in the interview below.