| Women's Candidates Tournament 2026 | |
|---|---|
Vaishali Rameshbabu, the winner of the tournament, advanced to the Women's World Chess Championship 2026 match.
|
|
| Venue | Cap St Georges Hotel and Resort |
| Location | Pegeia, Cyprus |
| Dates | 28 March – 16 April 2026 |
| Competitors | 8 |
| Winning score | 8.5 points of 14 |
| Champion | |
 Vaishali Rameshbabu |
|
The Women's Candidates Tournament 2026 was an eight-player chess tournament held to determine the challenger for the Women's World Chess Championship 2026. The tournament took place at the Cap St Georges Hotel and Resort in Pegeia, Cyprus, between 28 March and 16 April 2026. The event was held alongside the Candidates Tournament 2026.[1][2]
It was a double round-robin tournament. Vaishali Rameshbabu won the tournament and earned the right to play the Women's World Chess Championship 2026 against the reigning Women's World Chess Champion Ju Wenjun.[3][4]
Qualification
The eight players to qualify to the Women's Candidates Tournament were:[5]
| Qualification method | Player | Age | Rating | World ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (March 2026) | ||||
| The top two finishers in the FIDE Women's Grand Prix 2024–25 |  Zhu Jiner (winner) |
23 | 2578 | 2 |
 Aleksandra Goryachkina (runner-up) |
27 | 2534 | 7 | |
| The top three finishers in the Women's Chess World Cup 2025 | Divya Deshmukh (winner) |
20 | 2497 | 12 |
| |
39 | 2535 | 5 | |
| Tan Zhongyi (third place) |
34 | 2535 | 6 | |
| The top two finishers in the FIDE Women's Grand Swiss Tournament 2025 | Vaishali Rameshbabu (winner) |
24 | 2470 | 18 |
| Kateryna Lagno (runner-up) |
36 | 2508 | 10 | |
| Highest place in the FIDE Women's Events 2024–25 not already qualified[a] |  Bibisara Assaubayeva |
22 | 2516 | 9 |
 Anna Muzychuk (Replacement for Koneru) |
36 | 2522 | 8 | |
Humpy Koneru withdrew a week before the tournament began, citing safety concerns in Cyprus due to the 2026 Iran war. Anna Muzychuk, the next highest scoring player in the FIDE Women's Events Series, was brought on as a replacement.[6]
FIDE Women's Events 2024–25
In conjunction with the Open Candidates Tournament 2026, the runner-up of the previous championship match no longer automatically qualified, unlike any previous Women's Candidates Tournament. Instead, the 2025 match was part of the FIDE Women's Events 2024–25, a new qualification path which was a circuit that included the 2024 and 2025 World Rapid and Blitz Championships, the Grand Prix series, the World Cup and the Grand Swiss.[7] A player's score was the sum of her highest scores in up to 5 qualifying events.[8]
- : Qualified for Women's Candidates Tournament 2026
- : Current World Champion – ineligible for Women's Candidates Tournament 2026 qualification
- : Player qualified for Women's Candidates Tournament 2026 via another path
- : Player ineligible for Women's Candidates Tournament 2026 qualification
| No. | Player | Points | Events | World Rapid 2024 | World Blitz 2024 | World Champ | Grand Prix | World Cup | Grand Swiss | World Rapid 2025 | World Blitz 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Koneru Humpy |
280.00 | 4 | 1st 84.00 |
N/a | N/a | 4th 60.00 |
2nd 80.00 |
N/a | T 2nd-3rd 56.00 |
N/a |
| 2 | Tan Zhongyi |
216.10 | 5 | T 2nd-7th 38.50 |
N/a | 2nd 25.00 |
5th 40.00 |
3rd 50.00 |
T 3rd-5th 60.00 |
T 7th-14th 2.60 |
N/a |
| 3 | Zhu Jiner |
214.00 | 4 | N/a | T 5th-8th 8.00 |
N/a | 1st 120.00 |
N/a | N/a | 2nd 70.00 |
T 3rd-4th 16.00 |
| 4 | Aleksandra Goryachkina |
185.78 | 3 | N/a | N/a | N/a | 2nd 100.00 |
N/a | N/a | 1st 84.00 |
T 7th-15th 1.78 |
| 5 | Vaishali Rameshbabu |
176.30 | 4 | N/a | T 3rd-4th 16.00 |
N/a | N/a | T 5th-8th 20.00 |
T 1st-2nd 110.00 |
T 4th-6th 30.30 |
N/a |
| 6 | Kateryna Lagno |
167.10 | 4 | T 2nd-7th 38.50 |
T 3rd-4th 16.00 |
N/a | N/a | N/a | T 1st-2nd 110.00 |
T 7th-14th 2.60 |
N/a |
| 7 | Bibisara Assaubayeva |
147.40 | 5 | T 8th-12th 1.40 |
T 5th-8th 8.00 |
N/a | 6th 30.00 |
N/a | T 3rd-5th 60.00 |
N/a | 1st 48.00 |
| 8 | Divya Deshmukh |
142.60 | 3 | N/a | N/a | N/a | 7th 20.00 |
1st 120.00 |
N/a | T 7th-14th 2.60 |
N/a |
| 9 | Anna Muzychuk |
114.60 | 3 | N/a | N/a | N/a | 3rd 80.00 |
N/a | N/a | T 7th-14th 2.60 |
2nd 32.00 |
| 10 | Ju Wenjun |
86.50 | 2[b] | T 2nd-7th 38.50 |
1st 48.00 |
1st 0.00 |
N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a |
| 11 |
|
81.78 | 3 | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | T 5th-8th 20.00 |
T 3rd-5th 60.00 |
N/a | T 7th-15th 1.78 |
| 12 | Lei Tingjie |
64.60 | 3 | N/a | 2nd 32.00 |
N/a | N/a | 4th 30.00 |
N/a | T 7th-14th 2.60 |
N/a |
| 13 | Harika Dronavalli |
58.50 | 2 | T 2nd-7th 38.50 |
N/a | N/a | N/a | T 5th-8th 20.00 |
N/a | N/a | N/a |
| 14 |  Afruza Khamdamova |
38.50 | 1 | T 2nd-7th 38.50 |
N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a |
 Alexandra Kosteniuk |
41.10 | 2 | T 2nd-7th 38.50 |
N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | T 7th-14th 2.60 |
N/a | |
| 16 | Savitha Shri Baskar |
30.30 | 1 | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | T 4th-6th 30.30 |
N/a |
 Ekaterina Atalik |
30.30 | 1 | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | T 4th-6th 30.30 |
N/a | |
| 18 | Mariya Muzychuk |
26.40 | 3 | T 8th-12th 1.40 |
N/a | N/a | T 8th-9th 5.00 |
N/a | T 6th-8th 20.00 |
N/a | N/a |
| 19 |
|
25.00 | 2 | N/a | N/a | N/a | T 8th-9th 5.00 |
T 5th-8th 20.00 |
N/a | N/a | N/a |
| 20 |  Irina Krush |
20.00 | 1 | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | T 6th-8th 20.00 |
N/a | N/a |
 Ulviyya Fataliyeva |
20.00 | 1 | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | T 6th-8th 20.00 |
N/a | N/a | |
| 22 | Valentina Gunina |
16.00 | 1 | N/a | T 5th-8th 8.00 |
N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | 5th 8.00 |
 Eline Roebers |
16.00 | 1 | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | T 3rd-4th 16.00 |
|
| 24 | Carissa Yip |
8.00 | 1 | N/a | T 5th-8th 8.00 |
N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a |
 Antoaneta Stefanova |
8.00 | 1 | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | N/a | 6th 8.00 |
Organization
The tournament was an eight-player, double round-robin tournament, meaning there were be 14 rounds with each player facing each of the others twice: once with the white pieces and once with the black pieces. The tournament winner will qualify to play Ju Wenjun for the World Championship in 2026.
Regulations
The time control was 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, then 30 minutes for the rest of the game, plus a 30-second increment per move starting from move 1. Players got 1 point for a win, ½ point for a draw and 0 points for a loss.
Tiebreaks for the first place would have been addressed as follows:[2]
- If two players were tied, they would play two rapid chess games at 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move. If a three- to six-way tie occurred, a single round-robin would be played. If seven or eight players are tied, a single round-robin would be played with a time limit of 10 minutes plus 5 seconds per move.
- If any players were tied for first after the rapid chess games, they would play two blitz chess games at 3 minutes plus 2 seconds per move. In the case of more than two players being tied, a single round-robin would be played.
- If any players were still tied for first after these blitz chess games, the remaining players would play a knock-out blitz tournament at the same time control. In each mini-match of the proposed knock-out tournament, the first player to win a game would win the mini-match.
Ties for places other than first were broken by, in order: (1) Sonneborn–Berger score; (2) total number of wins; (3) head-to-head score among tied players; (4) drawing of lots.
Prize money
The prize money was €28,000 for first place, €17,000 for second place, and €8,600 for third place (with players on the same number of points sharing prize money, irrespective of tie-breaks), plus €2,200 per half-point for every player, for a minimum total prize pool of €300,000, according to the regulations.[2]
Arbiters
The Chief Arbiter for the event was Takis Nikolopoulos (Greece) with Andrew Howie (Scotland) and Ana Srebrnič (Slovakia) both acting as Deputy Chief Arbiter and Fair Play Officer.[9]
Schedule
On 10 November 2025, FIDE announced the following schedule.[1] Matches began daily at 15:30 EEST (UTC +3).
| Date | Day | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 28 March | Saturday | Opening Ceremony |
| Media Day | ||
| Technical Meeting | ||
| 29 March | Sunday | Round 1 |
| 30 March | Monday | Round 2 |
| 31 March | Tuesday | Round 3 |
| 1 April | Wednesday | Round 4 |
| 2 April | Thursday | Rest Day |
| 3 April | Friday | Round 5 |
| 4 April | Saturday | Round 6 |
| 5 April | Sunday | Round 7 |
| 6 April | Monday | Rest Day |
| 7 April | Tuesday | Round 8 |
| 8 April | Wednesday | Round 9 |
| 9 April | Thursday | Round 10 |
| 10 April | Friday | Rest Day |
| 11 April | Saturday | Round 11 |
| 12 April | Sunday | Round 12 |
| 13 April | Monday | Rest Day |
| 14 April | Tuesday | Round 13 |
| 15 April | Wednesday | Round 14 |
| 16 April | Thursday | Tie-breakers (if required) |
| Closing Ceremony |
Results
Standings
| Rank | Player | Score | SB | Wins | Qualification | VR | BA | ZJ | AG | AM | KL | DD | TZ | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vaishali Rameshbabu (IND) |
8.5 / 14 | 55.75 | 5 | Advanced to title match | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | |||
| 2 | Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ) |
8 / 14 | 56.25 | 4 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ||||
| 3 | Zhu Jiner (CHN) |
7.5 / 14 | 50.5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | ||||
| 4 | Aleksandra Goryachkina (FIDE) |
7.5 / 14 | 50.25 | 3 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | ||||
| 5 | Anna Muzychuk (UKR) |
7 / 14 | 49.25 | 2 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ||||
| 6 | Kateryna Lagno (FIDE) |
6.5 / 14 | 43 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ||||
| 7 | Divya Deshmukh (IND) |
5.5 / 14 | 40.25 | 2 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | ||||
| 8 | Tan Zhongyi (CHN) |
5.5 / 14 | 38.25 | 1 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ||||
Source: FIDE
Rules for classification: For first place: tie-break games. For subsequent spots: (1) results in tie-break games for first place, if any; (2) Sonneborn–Berger score (SB); (3) total number of wins; (4) head-to-head score among tied players; (5) drawing of lots.[2]
Rules for classification: For first place: tie-break games. For subsequent spots: (1) results in tie-break games for first place, if any; (2) Sonneborn–Berger score (SB); (3) total number of wins; (4) head-to-head score among tied players; (5) drawing of lots.[2]
Note: Numbers in the crosstable in a white background indicate the result playing the respective opponent with the white pieces (black pieces if on a black background). This does not give information which of the two games was played in the first half of the tournament, and which in the second.
Points by round
This table shows the total number of wins minus the total number of losses each player has after each round. The symbol '=' indicates the player had won and lost the same number of games after that round. Green backgrounds indicate the player(s) with the highest score after each round. Red backgrounds indicate players who could no longer win the tournament after each round.
| Rank | Player | Rounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | ||
| 1 | Vaishali Rameshbabu (IND) |
= | = | = | = | −1 | = | +1 | +1 | +2 | +2 | +3 | +2 | +2 | +3 |
| 2 | Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ) |
= | = | +1 | +1 | = | −1 | −1 | −1 | −1 | = | = | +1 | +2 | +2 |
| 3 | Zhu Jiner (CHN) |
= | = | −1 | = | +1 | = | = | +1 | +2 | +1 | +1 | +2 | +1 | +1 |
| 4 | Aleksandra Goryachkina (FIDE) |
= | = | = | = | = | = | = | −1 | −1 | = | −1 | −1 | = | +1 |
| 5 | Anna Muzychuk (UKR) |
= | = | = | +1 | +1 | +2 | +2 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | = | = |
| 6 | Kateryna Lagno (FIDE) |
= | = | +1 | = | +1 | = | = | +1 | = | = | = | −1 | = | −1 |
| 7 | Divya Deshmukh (IND) |
= | = | = | −1 | −1 | = | = | +1 | = | −1 | −1 | −2 | −3 | −3 |
| 8 | Tan Zhongyi (CHN) |
= | = | −1 | −1 | −1 | −1 | −2 | −3 | −3 | −3 | −3 | −2 | −2 | −3 |
Results by round
In February 2026, FIDE announced pairings for the tournament.[10]
| Round 1 (29 March) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Divya Deshmukh | ½–½ | Anna Muzychuk | C45 Scotch Game |
| Vaishali Rameshbabu | ½–½ | Bibisara Assaubayeva | B32 Closed Sicilian |
| Aleksandra Goryachkina | ½–½ | Kateryna Lagno | C84 Ruy Lopez Closed |
| Zhu Jiner | ½–½ | Tan Zhongyi | C55 Two Knights Defense |
| Round 2 (30 March) | |||
| Anna Muzychuk (½) | ½–½ | Tan Zhongyi (½) | C42 Petrov Classical |
| Kateryna Lagno (½) | ½–½ | Zhu Jiner (½) | C07 French Tarrasch |
| Bibisara Assaubayeva (½) | ½–½ | Aleksandra Goryachkina (½) | D40 Semi-Tarrasch Defense |
| Divya Deshmukh (½) | ½–½ | Vaishali Rameshbabu (½) | D31 Queen's Gambit Declined |
| Round 3 (31 March) | |||
| Vaishali Rameshbabu (1) | ½–½ | Anna Muzychuk (1) | C55 Two Knights Defense |
| Aleksandra Goryachkina (1) | ½–½ | Divya Deshmukh (1) | B31 Sicilian Rossolimo |
| Zhu Jiner (1) | 0–1 | Bibisara Assaubayeva (1) | B30 Sicilian Rossolimo |
| Tan Zhongyi (1) | 0–1 | Kateryna Lagno (1) | C53 Giuoco Piano |
| Round 4 (1 April) | |||
| Anna Muzychuk (1½) | 1–0 | Kateryna Lagno (2) | C85 Ruy Lopez Closed |
| Bibisara Assaubayeva (2) | ½–½ | Tan Zhongyi (1½) | D30 Queen's Gambit Declined |
| Divya Deshmukh (1½) | 0–1 | Zhu Jiner (1) | A21 English Opening |
| Vaishali Rameshbabu (1½) | ½–½ | Aleksandra Goryachkina (1½) | C55 Two Knights Defense |
| Round 5 (3 April) | |||
| Aleksandra Goryachkina (2) | ½–½ | Anna Muzychuk (2½) | B31 Sicilian Rossolimo |
| Zhu Jiner (2) | 1–0 | Vaishali Rameshbabu (2) | C55 Two Knights Defense |
| Tan Zhongyi (1½) | ½–½ | Divya Deshmukh (1½) | D30 Queen's Gambit Declined |
| Kateryna Lagno (2) | 1–0 | Bibisara Assaubayeva (2½) | B34 Closed Sicilian |
| Round 6 (4 April) | |||
| Zhu Jiner (3) | 0–1 | Anna Muzychuk (3) | C50 Giuoco Pianissimo |
| Tan Zhongyi (2) | ½–½ | Aleksandra Goryachkina (2½) | C58 Two Knights Defense |
| Kateryna Lagno (3) | 0–1 | Vaishali Rameshbabu (2) | C28 Vienna Game |
| Bibisara Assaubayeva (2½) | 0–1 | Divya Deshmukh (2) | D52 Queen's Gambit Declined |
| Round 7 (5 April) | |||
| Anna Muzychuk (4) | ½–½ | Bibisara Assaubayeva (2½) | B30 Sicilian Rossolimo |
| Divya Deshmukh (3) | ½–½ | Kateryna Lagno (3) | A13 English Agincourt Defense |
| Vaishali Rameshbabu (3) | 1–0 | Tan Zhongyi (2½) | B07 Pirc Defence |
| Aleksandra Goryachkina (3) | ½–½ | Zhu Jiner (3) | C80 Ruy Lopez Open |
| Round 8 (7 April) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Anna Muzychuk (4½) | 0–1 | Divya Deshmukh (3½) | B27 Sicilian Hyperaccelerated Dragon |
| Bibisara Assaubayeva (3) | ½–½ | Vaishali Rameshbabu (4) | C55 Two Knights Defense |
| Kateryna Lagno (3½) | 1–0 | Aleksandra Goryachkina (3½) | C45 Scotch Game |
| Tan Zhongyi (2½) | 0–1 | Zhu Jiner (3½) | E32 Nimzo-Indian Classical |
| Round 9 (8 April) | |||
| Tan Zhongyi (2½) | ½–½ | Anna Muzychuk (4½) | D80 Grünfeld Defence |
| Zhu Jiner (4½) | 1–0 | Kateryna Lagno (4½) | A06 Zukertort Opening |
| Aleksandra Goryachkina (3½) | ½–½ | Bibisara Assaubayeva (3½) | B30 Sicilian Rossolimo |
| Vaishali Rameshbabu (4½) | 1–0 | Divya Deshmukh (4½) | A06 Nimzowitsch–Larsen Attack |
| Round 10 (9 April) | |||
| Anna Muzychuk (5) | ½–½ | Vaishali Rameshbabu (5½) | C55 Two Knights Defense |
| Divya Deshmukh (4½) | 0–1 | Aleksandra Goryachkina (4) | C90 Ruy Lopez Closed |
| Bibisara Assaubayeva (4) | 1–0 | Zhu Jiner (5½) | D43 Semi-Slav Defense |
| Kateryna Lagno (4½) | ½–½ | Tan Zhongyi (3) | B28 Sicilian O'Kelly |
| Round 11 (11 April) | |||
| Kateryna Lagno (5) | ½–½ | Anna Muzychuk (5½) | E15 Queen's Indian Defense |
| Tan Zhongyi (3½) | ½–½ | Bibisara Assaubayeva (5) | B30 Sicilian Rossolimo |
| Zhu Jiner (5½) | ½–½ | Divya Deshmukh (4½) | B30 Sicilian Rossolimo |
| Aleksandra Goryachkina (5) | 0–1 | Vaishali Rameshbabu (6) | D02 London System |
| Round 12 (12 April) | |||
| Anna Muzychuk (6) | ½–½ | Aleksandra Goryachkina (5) | C84 Ruy Lopez Closed |
| Vaishali Rameshbabu (7) | 0–1 | Zhu Jiner (6) | B12 Caro–Kann Defence |
| Divya Deshmukh (5) | 0–1 | Tan Zhongyi (4) | C44 King's Knight Opening |
| Bibisara Assaubayeva (5½) | 1–0 | Kateryna Lagno (5½) | C53 Giuoco Piano |
| Round 13 (14 April) | |||
| Bibisara Assaubayeva (6½) | 1–0 | Anna Muzychuk (6½) | C45 Scotch Game |
| Kateryna Lagno (5½) | 1–0 | Divya Deshmukh (5) | B12 Caro–Kann Defence |
| Tan Zhongyi (5) | ½–½ | Vaishali Rameshbabu (7) | D32 Tarrasch Defense |
| Zhu Jiner (7) | 0–1 | Aleksandra Goryachkina (5½) | C50 Giuoco Pianissimo |
| Round 14 (15 April) | |||
| Anna Muzychuk (6½) | ½–½ | Zhu Jiner (7) | B22 Alapin Sicilian |
| Aleksandra Goryachkina (6½) | 1–0 | Tan Zhongyi (5½) | C42 Petrov Classical |
| Vaishali Rameshbabu (7½) | 1–0 | Kateryna Lagno (6½) | B76 Dragon Sicilian |
| Divya Deshmukh (5) | ½–½ | Bibisara Assaubayeva (7½) | A45 Indian Defence |
See also
- Candidates Tournament 2026
- Women's Candidates Tournament
References
- ^ a b "Mediterranean Stage Set for Chess History: The 2026 FIDE Candidates Come to Cyprus". FIDE. 10 November 2025. Archived from the original on 10 November 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Regulations for the FIDE Women's Candidates Tournament 2026" (PDF). FIDE. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
- ^ Colin, McGourty (14 April 2026). "Vaishali Wins Women's Candidates; Sindarov Breaks Record". Chess.com. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
- ^ "Vaishali conquers Women's Candidates to set up world title showdown against Ju Wenjun". FIDE. 14 April 2026. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
- ^ Anish Anand (27 March 2026). "India at FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026: All you need to know". ESPN. Archived from the original on 5 April 2026. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
- ^ "Candidates 2026: Anna Muzychuk to replace Koneru Humpy after Indian GM pulls out". The Indian Express. 23 March 2026. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
- ^ "Qualification paths for FIDE Women's Candidates Tournament 2026 finalized". FIDE. 3 December 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
- ^ a b "FIDE WOMEN'S EVENTS 2024-2025". FIDE. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
- ^ "Tournament Principals". Retrieved 1 April 2026.
- ^ "FIDE Candidates 2026 pairings drawn in Cyprus". FIDE. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
Notes
- ^ Koneru Humpy finished first in the 2024–2025 FIDE Women's Events circuit, but had already qualified for the Candidates through a second place finish at the Women's Chess World Cup 2025. As a result, the qualifying spot was awarded to the highest finisher of the FIDE Women's Events circuit who had not already qualified for the event (Bibisara Assaubayeva). Upon Koneru's withdrawal from the event on March 22, 2026, her spot went to the next highest finisher (Anna Muzychuk).
- ^ Does not include the World Championship match that awarded Ju zero points.
External links
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Women's Candidates Tournaments
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| Since 2019 |
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Women's World Chess Championships
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| Tournament format |
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| Match format |
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| Knock-out format |
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| Alternating format |
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| Match format |
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