Praggnanandhaa slowed a bit but is mentally peaking for Candidates: Anand

Legendary chess player Viswanathan Anand has said that young Indian grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa “may have slowed down a bit” in recent classical events but is mentally peaking ahead of the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 in Cyprus, starting March 28.

Praggnanandhaa, the only Indian in the men’s section , will compete against eight of the world’s top players , including Fabiano Caruana , Hikaru Nakamura , and Anish Giri , with the winner earning the right to challenge reigning world champion D. Gukesh later this year. Anand, a five-time world champion and current FIDE vice-president , said predicting a winner was extremely difficult given the high level of competition.

Speaking on FIDE’s YouTube channel, Anand said: “He’s experienced, but at the same time he looks very motivated. He has slowed down a little bit in the last few months, but maybe mentally he is already peaking and getting ready for the Candidates.”

Praggnanandhaa’s recent performances have been strong overall. He won the 2025 FIDE Circuit , topping the year-long series of elite events and becoming the first Indian to qualify for the Candidates through the Circuit . In 2025, he also achieved notable victories at the Tata Steel Masters , Superbet Chess Classic Romania , and the UzChess Cup Masters , while performing well in other international tournaments. However, his 2026 classical season has been slightly inconsistent; at the recent Tata Steel Chess Tournament , he faced a couple of setbacks, drawing and losing key games.

Anand highlighted that the Candidates will be fiercely contested: “Fabi, Hikaru, Anish… they will feel this is their time. I can’t for the life of me predict someone, but it’s going to be very exciting.”

Cyprus, chosen as the venue, has attracted attention due to its proximity to the evolving Gulf conflict . Three Indian women will compete in the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament against reigning champion Ju Wenjun , though stalwart Koneru Humpy is reportedly considering withdrawal citing security concerns. Anand added that FIDE always strives to select high-quality venues , and Cyprus would provide an ideal backdrop for such a high-level tournament .

“It’s just a tournament in the end. Once you know when and where to go, you block everything else out. Everything’s been set four months in advance, and we are looking forward to it,” Anand concluded.