Women's Candidates 2026 qualification

[Mick Norris]

Due to be played in April 2026, with the winner playing a match against Ju Wenjun later in 2026 (I assume)

Qualifiers:

Grand Prix - Zhu Jiner, Aleksandra Goryachkina

World Cup - Divya Deshmukh, Humpy Koneru, Tan Zhongyi

Grand Swiss is in Samarkand, Uzbekistan from 3-15 September, 2025; first 2 qualify

FIDE Women’s Events 2024-25 series; winner qualifies leaderboard, tournaments, regulations

Details

[Mick Norris]

Grand Swiss - Rameshbabu Vaishali, Kateryna Lagno

[Mick Norris]

Bibisara Assaubayeva currently 8th in the FIDE Women’s Events 2024-25 series, behind the 7 already qualified for the Candidates

Remaining events appear to be:

Women’s World Rapid Championship 2025
Women’s World Blitz Championship 2025

[Jon D'Souza-Eva]

I didn't realise that Divya Deshmukh had already qualified. That explains why she entered the Open, where she wasn't too far away from beating the World Champion!

[Mick Norris]

Yes, good for her, would have been good if Tan had done the same, but there's prize money at stake

[Mick Norris]

FIDE

Following the triumphs of Vaishali R and Kateryna Lagno in the Women’s Grand Swiss, all seven leading players in the Women’s Events race have qualified for the Women’s Candidates via various paths. The eighth and final spot in the competition—which will determine the challenger for the women’s world title—is still up for grabs.

Currently leading the battle for that last berth is Bibisara Assaubayeva (99.4), who earned 60 points for her third-place finish in Samarkand and now sits eighth, just behind the already-qualified players.

Chasing her are Song Yuxin (who tied for third place in Samarkand), Anna Muzychuk (both on 80 points), the winner of the 2022–23 Women’s Candidates Lei Tingjie (62 points), and the experienced Harika Dronavalli (58.5). Young Afruza Khamdamova, former Women’s World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk (both on 38.5), Mariya Muzychuk (26.40), Nana Dzagnidze (25), Ulviyya Fataliyeva (20), and Irina Krush (20) also have a shot. With the large number of points available at the upcoming Women’s Rapid and Blitz Championships, all remain mathematically in the race.

Each of these contenders faces the formidable challenge of outperforming the rest in the season’s final events to secure the last coveted spot in the Women’s Candidates 2026.

[Kevin Thurlow]

"With the large number of points available at the upcoming Women’s Rapid and Blitz Championships, "

Why?

[Mick Norris]

Bibisara Assaubayeva currently 8th in the FIDE Women’s Events 2024-25 series, behind the 7 already qualified for the Candidates

Remaining events appear to be:

Women’s World Rapid Championship 2025
Women’s World Blitz Championship 2025

Bibisara has completed the line up

28 March to 16 April in Cyprus

[Mick Norris]

Pairings are out