Candidates Tournament

{{short description|International chess tournament}} {{For|the most recent Candidates Tournament|Candidates Tournament 2026}} The '''Candidates Tournament''' (or in some periods '''Candidates Matches''') is a chess tournament organized by FIDE, chess's international governing body, since 1950, as the final contest to determine the challenger for the World Chess Championship. The winner of the Candidates earns the right to a match for the World Championship against the incumbent world champion.

Before 1993 it was contested triennially; almost always held every third year from 1950 to 1992 inclusive. After the split of the World Championship in the early 1990s, the cycles were disrupted, even after the reunification of the titles in 2006. Since 2013 it has settled into a 2-year cycle: qualification for Candidates during the odd-numbered year, Candidates played early in the even-numbered year, and the World Championship match played late in the even-numbered year. The latter half of the 2020 Candidates Tournament was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was only played in April 2021.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://en.candidates-2020.com/news_1_26-03-2020 | title=FIDE Stops the Candidates Tournament }}</ref><ref name="FIDEfeb16">[https://www.fide.com/news/952 FIDE resumes the Candidates Tournament], FIDE, February 16, 2021</ref> The subsequent tournament, the 2022 Candidates Tournament, took place as scheduled in 2022.<ref>[https://twitter.com/EmilSutovsky/status/1387428085625143296 Emilchess on Twitter], Twitter, April 28, 2021</ref>

==Precursors== Before 1950, the champion had the right to handpick a challenger. However, a number of tournaments acted as de facto candidates tournaments:

* The London 1883 chess tournament established Johannes Zukertort and Wilhelm Steinitz as the best two players in the world, and was one of the important events leading to the first official world championship match between the two, in 1886. Steinitz won, making him the first official world champion. * The Saint Petersburg 1895–96 chess tournament, in which world champion Emanuel Lasker finished first and Steinitz finished second, led to Steinitz gaining support for an 1897 rematch,<ref>Israel Horowitz, ''From Morphy to Fischer'', Batsford, 1973, page 52</ref> which Lasker won. * The AVRO 1938 chess tournament was held partly to choose a challenger for Alexander Alekhine.<ref>Israel Horowitz, ''From Morphy to Fischer'', Batsford, 1973, page 116</ref> Paul Keres won on tie-breaks, but World War II prevented the match from happening.

==Organization== [[File:ChessCandidatesTournamentAmsterdam1956.jpg|thumb|Candidates Tournament 1956 Amsterdam: 10 players]] The number of players in the tournament varied over the years, between eight and fifteen players. Most of these qualified from Interzonal tournaments, though some gained direct entry without having to play the Interzonal.

The first Interzonal/Candidates World Championship cycle began in 1948. Before 1965, the tournament was organized in a round-robin format. From 1965 on, the tournament was played as knockout matches, spread over several months. In 1995–1996, the defending FIDE champion (Anatoly Karpov) also entered the Candidates, in the third round (Candidates final).

During its 1993 to 2006 split from FIDE, the "Classical" World Championship also held three Candidates Tournaments (in 1994–1995, 1998 and 2002) under a different sponsor and a different format each time. In one of these cases (Alexei Shirov in 1998) no title match eventuated, under disputed circumstances (see Classical World Chess Championship 2000).

After the reunification of titles in 2006, FIDE tried different Candidates formats in 2007, 2009 and 2011, before settling on an 8 player, double round robin Candidates tournament from 2013 onwards.

==Winners (since 2011)== {|class="wikitable" |- !Edition !Host city !Prize fund !style="background:#ffd700|Winner !style="background:#c0c0c0|Runner-up !style="background:#cc9966|Third |- | 2011 || Kazan, Russia || € {{formatnum:500000}} || {{flagicon|ISR}} Boris Gelfand || {{flagicon|RUS}} Alexander Grischuk || – |- | 2013 || London, United Kingdom || € {{formatnum:510000}} || {{flagicon|NOR}} Magnus Carlsen || {{flagicon|RUS}} Vladimir Kramnik || {{flagicon|RUS}} Peter Svidler |- | 2014 || Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia || € {{formatnum:420000}} || {{flagicon|IND}} Viswanathan Anand || {{flagicon|RUS}} Sergey Karjakin || {{flagicon|ARM}} Vladimir Kramnik |- | 2016 || Moscow, Russia || € {{formatnum:420000}} || {{flagicon|RUS}} Sergey Karjakin || {{flagicon|USA}} Fabiano Caruana || {{flagicon|IND}} Viswanathan Anand |- | 2018 || Berlin, Germany || € {{formatnum:420000}} || {{flagicon|USA}} Fabiano Caruana || {{flagicon|AZE}} Shakhriyar Mamedyarov || {{flagicon|RUS}} Sergey Karjakin |- | 2020–21 || Yekaterinburg, Russia || € {{formatnum:500000}} || {{flagicon|RUS}} Ian Nepomniachtchi || {{flagicon|FRA}} Maxime Vachier-Lagrave || {{flagicon|NED}} Anish Giri |- | 2022 || Madrid, Spain || € {{formatnum:500000}} || {{flagicon|FIDE}} Ian Nepomniachtchi || {{flagicon|CHN}} Ding Liren || {{flagicon|AZE}} Teimour Radjabov |- | 2024 || Toronto, Canada || € {{formatnum:500000}} || {{flagicon|IND}} Gukesh Dommaraju || {{flagicon|USA}} Hikaru Nakamura || {{flagicon|FIDE}} Ian Nepomniachtchi |- | 2026 || Paphos, Cyprus || € {{formatnum:700000}} || {{flagicon|UZB}} Javokhir Sindarov || {{flagicon|NED}} Anish Giri || {{flagicon|USA}} Fabiano Caruana |}

== Results of Candidates Tournaments ==  The tables below show the qualifiers and results for all interzonal, Candidates and world championship tournaments. * Players shown bracketed in italics (''Bondarevsky, Euwe, Fine and Reshevsky'' in 1950, ''Botvinnik'' in 1965, ''Fischer'' in 1977, ''Carlsen'' in 2011 and 2024, and ''Radjabov'' in 2020) qualified for the Candidates or were seeded in the Candidates, but did not play. * Players shown in italics with an asterisk (''Stein*'' in 1962 and again in 1965, and ''Bronstein*'' in 1965) were excluded from the Candidates by a rule limiting the number of players from one country. * ''Karjakin*'' in 2022 was disqualified by FIDE after his qualification for the Candidates: the FIDE Ethics and Disciplinary Commission ruled that he breached Article 2.2.10 of the FIDE Code of Ethics after he made public comments approving of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. He is shown bracketed, in italics, and with an asterisk. * Players listed ''after'' players in italics (Flohr in 1950, Benko in 1962, Geller, Ivkov and Portisch in 1965, Spassky in 1977, Grischuk in 2011, Vachier-Lagrave in 2020, Ding in 2022, and Abasov in 2024) only qualified due to the non-participation (withdrawal) of the bracketed players or players with an asterisk. *Incumbent champions' names are struck through when they refused to defend their title (Fischer in 1975 and Carlsen in 2023).

Normally, the incumbent champion is seeded directly into the final against the challenger (who had to pass through the Candidates qualification), but there have been exceptions:

*The World Chess Championship 1948, in which five players were seeded into the championship tournament (the previous champion, Alexander Alekhine, having died in 1946). A sixth player, Fine, was also seeded into the championship tournament but chose not to play; he is shown in brackets. *The FIDE World Chess Championship 1996, in which the FIDE World Champion Anatoly Karpov was seeded in the Candidates final. *The Classical World Chess Championship 2000, in which two players were seeded into the championship final (one of them being incumbent champion Kasparov), and there were no previous qualifying stages. In this way, it resembled the pre-1946 events, in which the champion could handpick a challenger. *The FIDE championships of 1999–2004 (during the split-title period), in which the incumbent champion had no special privileges. *The FIDE World Chess Championship 2005, in which eight players (including incumbent FIDE champion Kasimdzhanov) were seeded into the final championship tournament. *The FIDE World Chess Championship 2007, in which four players (including incumbent champion Kramnik) were seeded into the final championship tournament. The incumbent champion Bobby Fischer refused to defend his title at the World Chess Championship 1975, and his challenger Anatoly Karpov won by forfeit. (At the time, the Candidates was a knock-out event, so the 1974 Karpov–Korchnoi Candidates final match – a best of 24 games, like world championships in the period 1951–1972 and 1985–1993 – arguably became a ''de facto'' world championship in retrospect.) Magnus Carlsen refused to defend his title at the World Chess Championship 2023 and was replaced by the runner-up of the Candidates Tournament, Ding Liren.

== Interzonal and Candidates tournaments (1948–1996) == {{clear}} {| class=wikitable style="white-space;" |+ World Championship selection cycles from 1948 to 1996 ! Year !colspan=3 | Selection of participants !colspan=2 | Championship |- |rowspan=5| 1948 | 1938 AVRO winners |colspan=2| {{flagicon|USSR}} Paul Keres <s>{{flagicon|USA}} Reuben Fine</s> |rowspan=5 colspan=2| The Hague/Moscow 1948 Quintuple round robin: 1 {{flagicon|USSR}} '''Botvinnik''' 14/20 2 {{flagicon|USSR}} Smyslov 11 3-4 {{flagicon|USSR}} Keres 10½ 3-4 {{flagicon|USA}} Reshevsky 10½ 5 {{flagicon|NED}} Euwe 4 |- | Multiple US Champion |colspan=2| {{flagicon|USA}} Samuel Reshevsky |- | Former World Champion |colspan=2| {{flagicon|NED}} Max Euwe |- | Soviet Champion |colspan=2| {{flagicon|USSR}} Mikhail Botvinnik |- | Soviet grandmaster |colspan=2| {{flagicon|USSR}} Vasily Smyslov |- !rowspan=2| Year !colspan=2| Interzonal tournaments !colspan=2| Candidates tournaments !colspan=2| Championship |- ! Format ! Qualifiers ! Results ! Contestants ! Results |- |rowspan=2| 1948–51 | 1948 participants | {{flagicon|USSR}} Smyslov {{flagicon|USSR}} Keres <s>{{flagicon|NED}} Euwe</s> <s>{{flagicon|USA}} Fine</s> <s>{{flagicon|USA}} Reshevsky</s> |rowspan=2| Budapest 1950 Double round robin 10 players 1-2 {{flagicon|USSR}} Boleslavsky 1-2 {{flagicon|USSR}} Bronstein 3 {{flagicon|USSR}} Smyslov 4 {{flagicon|USSR}} Keres Playoff: {{flagicon|USSR}} Bronstein beat {{flagicon|USSR}} Boleslavsky |rowspan=2| Candidates winner: {{flagicon|USSR}} Bronstein Defending champion: {{flagicon|USSR}} Botvinnik |rowspan=2| Moscow 1951 24-game match Drawn 12–12 {{flagicon|USSR}} '''Botvinnik''' retained title |- | Saltsjöbaden (Stockholm) 1948: Single round robin 20 players 8 qualified | 1 {{flagicon|USSR}} Bronstein 2 {{flagicon|HUN}} Szabo 3 {{flagicon|USSR}} Boleslavsky 4 {{flagicon|USSR}} Kotov 5 {{flagicon|USSR}} Lilienthal 6-9 {{flagicon|ARG}} Najdorf 6-9 {{flagicon|SWE}} Ståhlberg 6-9 <s>{{flagicon|USSR}} Bondarevsky</s><ref>Bondarevsky was replaced in Candidates tournament because of illness</ref> 6-9 {{flagicon|CZE}} Flohr |- |rowspan=4| 1952–54 | 1951 runner up | {{flagicon|USSR}} Bronstein |rowspan=4| Zürich 1953 Double round robin 15 players 1 {{flagicon|USSR}} Smyslov 2-4 {{flagicon|USSR}} Bronstein 2-4 {{flagicon|USSR}} Keres 2-4 {{flagicon|USA}} Reshevsky |rowspan=4| Candidates winner: {{flagicon|USSR}} Smyslov Defending champion: {{flagicon|USSR}} Botvinnik |rowspan=4| Moscow 1954 24-game match Drawn 12–12 {{flagicon|USSR}} '''Botvinnik''' retained title |- | Candidates 2nd-5th | {{flagicon|USSR}} Boleslavsky {{flagicon|USSR}} Smyslov {{flagicon|USSR}} Keres {{flagicon|ARG}} Najdorf |- | 1948 participants | {{flagicon|USA}} Reshevsky {{flagicon|NED}} Euwe |- | Saltsjöbaden (Stockholm) 1952 Single round robin 21 players 8 qualified | 1 {{flagicon|USSR}} Kotov 2-3 {{flagicon|USSR}} Taimanov 2-3 {{flagicon|USSR}} Petrosian 4 {{flagicon|USSR}} Geller 5-8 {{flagicon|USSR}} Averbakh 5-8 {{flagicon|SWE}} Ståhlberg 5-8 {{flagicon|HUN}} Szabo 5-8 {{flagicon|YUG}} Gligorić |- |rowspan=2| 1955–57 | 1954 runner up | {{flagicon|USSR}} Smyslov |rowspan=2| Amsterdam 1956 Double round robin 10 players 1 {{flagicon|USSR}} Smyslov 2 {{flagicon|USSR}} Keres |rowspan=2| Candidates winner: {{flagicon|USSR}} Smyslov Defending champion: {{flagicon|USSR}} Botvinnik |rowspan=2| Moscow 1957 24-game match {{flagicon|USSR}} '''Smyslov''' won 12½–9½ |- | Gothenburg 1955 Single round robin 21 players 9 qualified | 1 {{flagicon|USSR}} Bronstein 2 {{flagicon|USSR}} Keres 3 {{flagicon|ARG}} Panno 4 {{flagicon|USSR}} Petrosian 5-6 {{flagicon|USSR}} Geller 5-6 {{flagicon|HUN}} Szabo 7–9 {{flagicon|CZE}} Filip 7–9 {{flagicon|ARG}} Pilnik 7–9 {{flagicon|USSR}}Spassky |- | 1958 |colspan=3| Rematch | {{flagicon|USSR}} Botvinnik {{flagicon|USSR}} Smyslov | Moscow 1958 24-game match {{flagicon|USSR}} '''Botvinnik''' won 12½–10½ |- |rowspan=3| 1958–60 | 1958 runner up | {{flagicon|USSR}} Smyslov |rowspan=3| Yugoslavia<ref>Bled, Zagreb, Beograd</ref> 1959 Quadruple round robin 8 players 1 {{flagicon|USSR}} Tal 2 {{flagicon|USSR}} Keres 3 {{flagicon|USSR}} Petrosian 4 {{flagicon|USSR}} Smyslov |rowspan=3| Candidates winner: {{flagicon|USSR}} Tal Defending champion: {{flagicon|USSR}} Botvinnik |rowspan=3| Moscow 1960 24-game match {{flagicon|USSR}} '''Tal''' won 12½–8½ |- | 1956 Candidates runner up | {{flagicon|USSR}} Keres |- | Portorož 1958 Single round robin 21 players 6 qualified | 1 {{flagicon|USSR}} Tal 2 {{flagicon|YUG}} Gligorić 3-4 {{flagicon|USSR}} Petrosian 3-4 {{flagicon|HUN}} Benko 5-6 {{flagicon|ISL}} Friðrik 5-6 {{flagicon|USA}} Fischer |- | 1961 |colspan=3| Rematch | {{flagicon|USSR}} Botvinnik {{flagicon|USSR}} Tal | Moscow 1961 24-game match {{flagicon|USSR}} '''Botvinnik''' won 13–8 |- |rowspan=3| 1962–63 | 1961 runner up | {{flagicon|USSR}} Tal |rowspan=3| Curaçao 1962 Quadruple round robin 8 players 1 {{flagicon|USSR}} Petrosian; 2 {{flagicon|USSR}} Keres<ref>after playoff match against Geller</ref> 3 {{flagicon|USSR}} Geller 4 {{flagicon|USA}} Fischer |rowspan=3| Candidates winner: {{flagicon|USSR}} Petrosian Defending champion: {{flagicon|USSR}} Botvinnik |rowspan=3| Moscow 1963 24-game match {{flagicon|USSR}} '''Petrosian''' won 12½–9½ |- | 1959 Candidates runner up | {{flagicon|USSR}} Keres |- | Stockholm 1962 Single round robin 23 players 6 qualified | 1 {{flagicon|USA}} Fischer 2-3 {{flagicon|USSR}} Geller 2-3 {{flagicon|USSR}} Petrosian 4-5 {{flagicon|USSR}} Korchnoi 4-5 {{flagicon|CZE}} Filip 6-8 {{flagicon|USSR}} ''Stein*'' 6-8 {{flagicon|HUN}} Benko<ref>In the play-off, Stein finished first before Benko, and Gligorić third. Stein was eliminated because only three Soviet players could qualify from the interzonal to the candidates tournament.</ref>

|- |rowspan=3| 1964–66 | 1963 runner up | <s>{{flagicon|USSR}} Botvinnik</s> |rowspan=3| 1965: 8 players, matches Semi-finals: {{flagicon|USSR}} Spassky beat {{flagicon|USSR}} Geller {{flagicon|USSR}} Tal beat {{flagicon|DEN}} Larsen Final: {{flagicon|USSR}} Spassky beat {{flagicon|USSR}} Tal |rowspan=3| Candidates winner: {{flagicon|USSR}} Spassky Defending champion: {{flagicon|USSR}} Petrosian |rowspan=3| Moscow 1966 24-game match {{flagicon|USSR}} '''Petrosian''' won 12½–11½ |- | 1962 Candidates | {{flagicon|USSR}} Keres ''{{flagicon|USSR}} Geller'' |- | Amsterdam 1964 Single round robin 24 players 6 qualified | 1-4 {{flagicon|USSR}} Smyslov 1-4 {{flagicon|DEN}} Larsen 1-4 {{flagicon|USSR}} Spassky 1-4 {{flagicon|USSR}} Tal 5 {{flagicon|USSR}} ''Stein''* 6 {{flagicon|USSR}} ''Bronstein''* 7 {{flagicon|YUG}} Ivkov 8-9 {{flagicon|HUN}} Portisch<ref>Portisch beat Reshevsky in play-off.</ref> |- |rowspan=3| 1967–69 | 1966 runner up | {{flagicon|USSR}} Spassky |rowspan=3| 1968: 8 players, matches Semi-finals: {{flagicon|USSR}} Korchnoi beat {{flagicon|USSR}} Tal {{flagicon|USSR}} Spassky beat {{flagicon|DEN}} Larsen Final: {{flagicon|USSR}} Spassky beat {{flagicon|USSR}} Korchnoi |rowspan=3| Candidates winner: {{flagicon|USSR}} Spassky Defending champion: {{flagicon|USSR}} Petrosian |rowspan=3| Moscow 1969 24-game match {{flagicon|USSR}} '''Spassky''' won 12½–10½ |- | 1965 Candidates runner up | {{flagicon|USSR}} Tal |- | Sousse 1967 Single round robin 23 players 6 qualified | 1 {{flagicon|DEN}} Larsen 2-4 {{flagicon|USSR}} Korchnoi 2-4 {{flagicon|USSR}} Geller 2-4 {{flagicon|YUG}} Gligorić 5 {{flagicon|HUN}} Portisch 6-8 {{flagicon|USA}} Reshevsky<ref>Hort and Stein were eliminated having a worse Berger tie-break (Neustadtl score), the play-off had ended with all players having 4/8.</ref> |- |rowspan=3| 1970–72 | 1969 runner up | {{flagicon|USSR}} Petrosian |rowspan=3| 1971: 8 players, matches Semi-finals: {{flagicon|USSR}} Petrosian beat {{flagicon|USSR}} Korchnoi {{flagicon|USA}} Fischer beat {{flagicon|DEN}} Larsen Final: {{flagicon|USA}} Fischer beat {{flagicon|USSR}} Petrosian |rowspan=3| Candidates winner: {{flagicon|USA}} Fischer Defending champion: {{flagicon|USSR}} Spassky |rowspan=3| Reykjavík 1972 24-game match {{flagicon|USA}} '''Fischer''' won 12½–8½ |- | 1968 Candidates runner up | {{flagicon|USSR}} Korchnoi |- | Palma de Mallorca 1970 Single round robin 24 players 6 qualified | 1 {{flagicon|USA}} Fischer 2-4 {{flagicon|DEN}} Larsen 2-4 {{flagicon|USSR}} Geller 2-4 {{flagicon|FRG}} Hübner 5-6 {{flagicon|USSR}} Taimanov 5-6 {{flagicon|DDR}} Uhlmann

|- |rowspan=4| 1973–75 | 1972 runner up | {{flagicon|USSR}} Spassky |rowspan=4| 1974: 8 players, matches Semi-finals: {{flagicon|USSR}} Korchnoi beat {{flagicon|USSR}} Petrosian {{flagicon|USSR}} Karpov beat {{flagicon|USSR}} Spassky Final: {{flagicon|USSR}} Karpov beat {{flagicon|USSR}} Korchnoi |rowspan=4| Candidates winner: {{flagicon|USSR}} Karpov Defending champion: <s>{{flagicon|USA}} Fischer</s> |rowspan=4| 1975: {{flagicon|USSR}} '''Karpov''' won on forfeit |- | 1971 Candidates runner up | {{flagicon|USSR}} Petrosian |- |rowspan=2| 1973: Two single round robins 18 players each 3 qualified from each | Leningrad 1973: 1-2 {{flagicon|USSR}} Korchnoi 1-2 {{flagicon|USSR}} Karpov 3 {{flagicon|USA}} Byrne |- | Petropolis 1973: 1 {{flagicon|BRA}} Mecking 2-4 {{flagicon|HUN}} Portisch 2-4 {{flagicon|USSR}} Polugaevsky<ref>Geller eliminated after play-off</ref> |- |rowspan=4| 1976–78 | 1975 runner up | <s>{{flagicon|USA}} Fischer</s> |rowspan=4| 1977: 8 players, matches Semi-finals: {{flagicon|SWI}} Korchnoi beat {{flagicon|USSR}} Polugaevsky {{flagicon|USSR}} Spassky beat {{flagicon|HUN}} Portisch Final: {{flagicon|SWI}} Korchnoi beat {{flagicon|USSR}} Spassky |rowspan=4| Candidates winner: {{flagicon|SWI}} Korchnoi Defending champion: {{flagicon|USSR}} Karpov |rowspan=4| Baguio 1978 First to 6 wins {{flagicon|USSR}} '''Karpov''' won 6–5 after 32 games (draws not counting) |- | 1974 Candidates | {{flagicon|SWI}} Korchnoi {{flagicon|USSR}} ''Spassky'' |- |rowspan=2| 1976: Two single round robins 20 players each 3 qualified from each | Biel 1976: 1 {{flagicon|DEN}} Larsen 2-4 {{flagicon|USSR}} Petrosian 2-4 {{flagicon|HUN}} Portisch<ref>Tal eliminated after play-off</ref> |- |Manila 1976: 1 {{flagicon|BRA}} Mecking 2-3 {{flagicon|USSR}} Polugaevsky 2-3 {{flagicon|CZE}} Hort |- |rowspan=4| 1979–81 | 1978 runner up | {{flagicon|USSR}} Korchnoi |rowspan=4| 1980: 8 players, matches Semi-finals: {{flagicon|SWI}} Korchnoi beat {{flagicon|USSR}} Polugaevsky {{flagicon|FRG}} Hübner beat {{flagicon|HUN}} Portisch Final: {{flagicon|SWI}} Korchnoi beat {{flagicon|FRG}} Hübner |rowspan=4| Candidates winner: {{flagicon|SWI}} Korchnoi Defending champion: {{flagicon|USSR}} Karpov |rowspan=4| Meran 1981 First to 6 wins {{flagicon|USSR}} '''Karpov''' won 6–2 after 18 games (draws not counting) |- | 1977 Candidates runner up | {{flagicon|USSR}} Spassky |- |rowspan=2| 1979: Two single round robins 18 players each 3 qualified from each | Riga 1979: 1-2 {{flagicon|USSR}} Tal 1-2 {{flagicon|USSR}} Polugaevsky 3-4 {{flagicon|HUN}} Adorján<ref>Ribli eliminated after playoff</ref> |- | Rio de Janeiro 1979: 1-3 {{flagicon|HUN}} Portisch 1-3 {{flagicon|USSR}} Petrosian 1-3 {{flagicon|FRG}} Hübner |- |rowspan=5| 1982–85 | 1981 runner up | {{flagicon|SWI}} Korchnoi |rowspan=5| 1983–84: 8 players, matches Semi-finals, 1983: {{flagicon|USSR}} Kasparov beat {{flagicon|SWI}} Korchnoi {{flagicon|USSR}} Smyslov beat {{flagicon|HUN}} Ribli Final, 1984: {{flagicon|USSR}} Kasparov beat {{flagicon|USSR}} Smyslov |rowspan=5| Candidates winner: {{flagicon|USSR}} Kasparov Defending champion: {{flagicon|USSR}} Karpov |rowspan=5| Moscow 1984–85 First to 6 wins ''Abandoned after 48 games'' ({{flagicon|USSR}} Karpov led 5–3, draws not counting) |- | 1980 Candidates runner up | {{flagicon|FRG}} Hübner |- |rowspan=3| 1982: Three single round robins 14 players each 2 qualified from each | Las Palmas 1982: 1 {{flagicon|HUN}} Ribli 2 {{flagicon|USSR}} Smyslov |- | Toluca 1982: 1-2 {{flagicon|HUN}} Portisch 1-2 {{flagicon|PHI}} Torre |- | Moscow 1982: 1 {{flagicon|USSR}} Kasparov 2 {{flagicon|USSR}} Beliavsky |- | 1985 |colspan=3| Replay | {{flagicon|USSR}} Karpov {{flagicon|USSR}} Kasparov | Moscow 1985 24-game match {{flagicon|USSR}} '''Kasparov''' won 13–11 |- | 1986 |colspan=3| Rematch | {{flagicon|USSR}} Karpov {{flagicon|USSR}} Kasparov | London/Leningrad 1986 24-game match {{flagicon|USSR}} '''Kasparov''' won 12½–11½ |- |rowspan=6| 1985–87 | 1986 runner up (seeded into Candidates final) | {{flagicon|USSR}} Karpov |rowspan=6| Montpellier 1985: Single round robin tournament 16 players, top 4 qualify 1-3 {{flagicon|USSR}} Yusupov 1-3 {{flagicon|USSR}} Sokolov 1-3 {{flagicon|ARM}} Vaganian 4-5 {{flagicon|NED}} Timman<ref>Timman eliminated Tal in play-off</ref> 1986: Two rounds of matches Semi-finals: {{flagicon|USSR}} Yusupov beat {{flagicon|NED}} Timman {{flagicon|USSR}} Sokolov beat {{flagicon|ARM}} Vaganian Final: {{flagicon|USSR}} Sokolov beat {{flagicon|USSR}} Yusupov Challenger Match Linares, 1987: {{flagicon|USSR}} Karpov beat {{flagicon|USSR}} Sokolov |rowspan=6| Candidates winner: {{flagicon|USSR}} Karpov Defending champion: {{flagicon|USSR}} Kasparov |rowspan=6| Seville 1987 24-game match Drawn 12–12 {{flagicon|USSR}} '''Kasparov''' retained title |- | 1983–84 Candidates semi-finalists | {{flagicon|USSR}} Korchnoi {{flagicon|HUN}} Ribli {{flagicon|USSR}} Smyslov |- | Organiser's wildcard | {{flagicon|FRA}} Spassky |- |rowspan=3| 1985: 3 single round robins 16–18 players each 4 qualified from each | Biel 1985: 1 {{flagicon|ARM}} Vaganian 2 {{flagicon|USA}} Seirawan 3 {{flagicon|USSR}} Sokolov 4-6 {{flagicon|ENG}} Short<ref>Van Der Wiel and Torre eliminated after playoff</ref> |- | Taxco 1985: 1 {{flagicon|NED}} Timman 2 {{flagicon|CUB}} Nogueiras 3 {{flagicon|USSR}} Tal 4 {{flagicon|CAN}} Spraggett |- | Tunis 1985: 1 {{flagicon|USSR}} Yusupov 2 {{flagicon|USSR}} Beliavsky 3 {{flagicon|HUN}} Portisch 4-5 {{flagicon|USSR}} Chernin<ref>Gavrikov eliminated after playoff</ref> |- |rowspan=6| 1987–90 | 1987 runner-up (seeded into quarter-finals) | {{flagicon|USSR}} Karpov |rowspan=6| 1988–89: 15 players, matches Semi-finals (1989): {{flagicon|USSR}} Karpov beat {{flagicon|USSR}} Yusupov {{flagicon|NED}} Timman beat {{flagicon|UK}} Speelman Final (1990): {{flagicon|USSR}} Karpov beat {{flagicon|NED}} Timman |rowspan=6| Candidates winner: {{flagicon|USSR}} Karpov Defending champion: {{flagicon|RUS}} Kasparov |rowspan=6| New York City/Lyon 1990 24-game match {{flagicon|RUS}} '''Kasparov''' won 12½–11½ |- | 1986 semi-finalists | {{flagicon|USSR}} Sokolov {{flagicon|NED}} Timman {{flagicon|ARM}} Vaganian {{flagicon|USSR}} Yusupov |- | Organiser's wildcard | {{flagicon|CAN}} Spraggett<ref name=chosen>chosen by the organizating federation</ref> |- |rowspan=3| 1987: Three single round robins 17–18 players each 3 qualified from each | Subotica 1987: 1-3 {{flagicon|HUN}} Sax 1-3 {{flagicon|ENG}} Short 1-3 {{flagicon|ENG}} Speelman |- | Szirák 1987: 1-2 {{flagicon|USSR}} Salov 1-2 {{flagicon|ISL}} Hjartarson 3-4 {{flagicon|HUN}} Portisch<ref>Nunn eliminated after Playoff</ref> |- | Zagreb 1987: 1 {{flagicon|USSR}} Korchnoi 2-3 {{flagicon|USA}} Seirawan 2-3 {{flagicon|USSR}} Ehlvest |- |rowspan=3| 1990–93 | 1990 runner up (seeded into quarter-finals) | {{flagicon|USSR}} Karpov |rowspan=3| 1991–92: 15 players, matches Semi-finals (1992): {{flagicon|ENG}} Short beat {{flagicon|RUS}} Karpov {{flagicon|NED}} Timman beat {{flagicon|RUS}} Yusupov Final (1993): {{flagicon|ENG}} Short beat {{flagicon|NED}} Timman |rowspan=2| Candidates winner: {{flagicon|ENG}} Short Defending champion: {{flagicon|RUS}} Kasparov |rowspan=2| London September–October 1993 24-game match {{flagicon|RUS}} '''Kasparov''' defeated Short 12½–7½ under the auspices of the PCA |- | 1989 Candidates semi-finalists | {{flagicon|NED}} Timman {{flagicon|USSR}} Yusupov {{flagicon|UK}} Speelman |- | Manila 1990 64 players Swiss 11 qualified | 1-2 {{flagicon|USSR}} Gelfand 1-2 {{flagicon|USSR}} Ivanchuk 3-4 {{flagicon|IND}} Anand 3-4 {{flagicon|ENG}} Short 5-11 {{flagicon|HUN}} Sax 5-11 {{flagicon|SWI}} Korchnoi 5-11 {{flagicon|FRG}} Hübner 5-11 {{flagicon|YUG}} Nikolić 5-11 {{flagicon|USSR}} Yudasin 5-11 {{flagicon|USSR}} Dolmatov 5-11 {{flagicon|USSR}} Dreev | Candidates finalist: {{flagicon|NED}} Timman Former world champion: {{flagicon|RUS}} Karpov | Netherlands<ref>Zwolle (games 1-3) / Arnhem (games 4-6) / Amsterdam (games 7-12)</ref> /Jakarta<ref>(games 13-21)</ref> September–November 1993 24-game match {{flagicon|RUS}} '''Karpov''' defeated Timman 12½–8½ under the auspices of FIDE |- |rowspan=2| 1993–95 (PCA) | 1993 PCA runner-up | {{flagicon|ENG}} Short |rowspan=2| 1994–95: 8 players, matches Semi-finals: {{flagicon|USA}} Kamsky beat {{flagicon|ENG}} Short {{flagicon|IND}} Anand beat {{flagicon|ENG}} Adams Final (1995): {{flagicon|IND}} Anand beat {{flagicon|USA}} Kamsky |rowspan=2| Candidates winner: {{flagicon|IND}} Anand Defending PCA champion: {{flagicon|RUS}} Kasparov |rowspan=2| New York City September–October 1995 20-game match {{flagicon|RUS}} '''Kasparov''' won 10½–7½ |- | Groningen December 1993 54 player Swiss 7 qualified | 1-2 {{flagicon|ENG}} Adams 1-2 {{flagicon|IND}} Anand 3-7 {{flagicon|USA}} Kamsky 3-7 {{flagicon|RUS}} Kramnik 3-7 {{flagicon|NED}} Tiviakov 3-7 {{flagicon|RUS}} Gulko 3-7 {{flagicon|UKR}} Romanishin |- |rowspan=3| 1993–96 (FIDE) | 1993 FIDE World Champion (seeded into Candidates final) | {{flagicon|RUS}} Karpov |rowspan=3| 1994: Two rounds of matches 12 players Finals, 1995: {{flagicon|RUS}} Karpov beat {{flagicon|BLR}} Gelfand {{flagicon|USA}} Kamsky beat {{flagicon|RUS}} Salov |rowspan=3| Candidates final match winners: {{flagicon|RUS}} Karpov {{flagicon|USA}} Kamsky |rowspan=3| Elista 1996 20-game match {{flagicon|RUS}} '''Karpov''' won 10½–7½ |- | 1993 FIDE Candidates semi-finalists | {{flagicon|NED}} Timman {{flagicon|RUS}} Yusupov |- | Biel July 1993 73 players Swiss 10 qualified | 1 {{flagicon|BLR}} Gelfand 2-9 {{flagicon|NED}} Van der Sterren 2-9 {{flagicon|USA}} Kamsky 2-9 {{flagicon|RUS}} Khalifman 2-9 {{flagicon|ENG}} Adams 2-9 {{flagicon|RUS}} Yudasin 2-9 {{flagicon|RUS}} Salov 2-9 {{flagicon|FRA}} Lautier 2-9 {{flagicon|RUS}} Kramnik 10-15 {{flagicon|IND}} Anand<ref>Epichine, Lputian, Shirov, Ivanchuk and I. Sokolov were eliminated by the tie-break (sum of the opponents Elo ratings).</ref> |}

== Split titles (1997–2005) == After 1996, interzonals ceased to exist, but FIDE continued to organize qualifying zonal tournaments.

{| border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="border:1px solid #aaa; border-collapse:collapse" |- style="background:#DDDDDD;" !colspan="7" align="center"| Classical championships (1998–2004) |- style="background:#cccccc;" ! Years ! Candidates format !colspan="2" align="center"| Seeded into Candidates !Candidates Winner(s) !width=11%|Seeded in Final !Championship Final |- | 1998 (Classical) | Cazorla, May–June 1998 10-game match |colspan="2"| {{flagicon|RUS}} Kramnik {{flagicon|ESP}} Shirov (on rating)<ref>''Anand'', as a participant in the FIDE world championship cycle, believed he was contractually obligated to not participate in a rival cycle.</ref> | '''{{flagicon|ESP}}''' Shirov won 5½–3½ | '''{{flagicon|RUS}}''' Kasparov (1995 champion) | Match never took place |- | 2000 (Classical) |colspan="4"| None | {{flagicon|RUS}} Kasparov (1995 champion) {{flagicon|RUS}} Kramnik (on rating)<ref>Negotiations for a 1999 match with ''Shirov'' or ''Anand'' failed, as did negotiations in 2000, with Anand expressing dissatisfaction with the contract.</ref> | London, October–November 2000 16-game match {{flagicon|RUS}} '''Kramnik''' won 8½–6½ |- | 2002–2004 (Classical) | Dortmund, July 2002 Two double round-robins, top two in each group advanced to knockout matches | Preliminaries:<ref>''Kasparov'' declined the invitation, as did ''Anand'' and other players engaged in the FIDE championship.</ref> {{col-begin}}{{col-break}} Group 1: 1. {{flagicon|ESP}} '''Shirov''' 2. {{flagicon|BUL}} '''Topalov''' 3. {{flagicon|ISR}} Gelfand 4. {{flagicon|GER}} Lutz {{col-break}} Group 2: 1. {{flagicon|RUS}} '''Bareev''' 2. {{flagicon|HUN}} '''Leko''' 3. {{flagicon|ENG}} Adams 4. {{flagicon|RUS}} Morozevich {{col-end}} | Semi-finals: {{flagicon|HUN}} Leko beat {{flagicon|Spain}} Shirov {{flagicon|BUL}} Topalov beat {{flagicon|RUS}} Bareev | {{flagicon|HUN}} Leko (beat {{flagicon|BUL}} Topalov in the final) | {{flagicon|RUS}} Kramnik (2000 Classical champion) | Brissago, September–October 2004 14-game match Drawn 7–7, {{flagicon|RUS}} '''Kramnik''' retained title |- style="background:#DDDDDD;" !colspan="7" align="center"| FIDE championships (1997–2005) |- style="background:#cccccc;" ! Years ! Candidates format !colspan="2" align="center"| Seeded into Candidates !colspan=2|Finalists !Championship Final |- | 1997–1998 (FIDE) |Groningen December 1997, 7 round, mini-match, knockout tournament Winner plays 6-game championship match against Karpov |colspan="2"|97 players,<ref>Top seed ''Kramnik'' refused to participate on the grounds that 1996 FIDE champion Karpov's direct entry into the final was unacceptable; 1995 classical champion ''Kasparov'', 1996 finalist ''Kamsky'' and 1996 Women champion ''Susan Polgar'' refused in advance to participate.</ref> Quarter-finalists: '''{{flagicon|ENG}}''' Adams, '''{{flagicon|NED}}''' Van Wely, '''{{flagicon|ENG}}''' Short, '''{{flagicon|Russia}}''' Krasenkov, '''{{flagicon|ISR}}''' Gelfand, '''{{flagicon|Russia}}''' Dreev, '''{{flagicon|IND}}''' Anand, '''{{flagicon|Spain}}''' Shirov.<ref>Topalov, Ivanchuk, Beliavsky, Salov, Bareev, Georgiev, J. Polgar, Sadler, Akopian, Lautier were eliminated</ref> |colspan=2| '''{{flagicon|IND}}''' Anand (beat '''{{flagicon|ENG}}''' Adams in candidates final) '''{{flagicon|Russia}}''' Karpov (1996 FIDE champion) | Lausanne: January 1998 6-game match Drawn 3–3; '''{{flagicon|Russia}}''' '''Karpov''' won rapid playoff 2–0 |- | 1999 (FIDE) |Las Vegas July–August 1999, 7 round, mini-match, knockout tournament |colspan="2"|100 players,<ref>1998 FIDE champion ''Karpov'', 1998 FIDE finalist ''Anand'' (Anand was negotiating to play a match against Kasparov for his title) and 1995 classical champion ''Kasparov'' refused to participate</ref> Quarter-finalists: '''{{flagicon|Russia}}''' Kramnik, '''{{flagicon|ENG}}''' Adams, '''{{flagicon|Russia}}''' Movsesian, '''{{flagicon|ARM}}''' Akopian, '''{{flagicon|Spain}}''' Shirov, '''{{flagicon|Romania}}''' Nisipeanu, '''{{flagicon|Russia}}''' Khalifman and '''{{flagicon|HUN}}''' {{nowrap|J. Polgar}}<ref>1998 classical championship candidates Shirov and Kramnik were eliminated by Nisipeanu and Adams in quarterfinals.</ref> |colspan="2"|Semi-finals (4-game matches): '''{{flagicon|Russia}}''' Khalifman beat '''{{flagicon|ROM}}''' Nisipeanu '''{{flagicon|ARM}}''' Akopian beat '''{{flagicon|ENG}}''' Adams | Las Vegas 1999 6-game match '''{{flagicon|Russia}}''' '''Khalifman''' won 3½–2½ |- | 2000 (FIDE) |New Delhi (6 rounds)/final in Tehran November–December 2000 7 round, mini-match, knockout tournament with final match played in Tehran |colspan="2"|100 players,<ref>Classical champions ''Kasparov'', ''Kramnik'' and 1998 FIDE champion ''Karpov'' didn't participate</ref> Quarter-finalists: '''{{flagicon|IND}}''' Anand, '''{{flagicon|Russia}}''' Khalifman, '''{{flagicon|England}}''' Adams, '''{{flagicon|Bulgaria}}''' Topalov, '''{{flagicon|Kazakhstan}}''' Tkachiev, '''{{flagicon|Russia}}''' Grischuk, '''{{flagicon|Spain}}''' Shirov and '''{{flagicon|Russia}}''' Bareev<ref>Morozevich, Leko, Krasenkov, Kasimdzhanov, Svidler, Gelfand, Short, Smirin, Dreev, Azmaiparashvili, Rublevsky, Almasi, Xu Jun, Gurevich were eliminated</ref> |colspan="2"|Semi-finals (4-game matches): '''{{flagicon|IND}}''' Anand beat '''{{flagicon|England}}''' Adams, '''{{flagicon|Spain}}''' Shirov beat '''{{flagicon|Russia}}''' Grischuk | Tehran December 2000 6-game match '''{{flagicon|IND}}''' '''Anand''' won 3½–½ |- | 2001–2002 (FIDE) | Moscow 7 round, mini-match, knockout tournament with relatively quick time controls first part (6 rounds): 25 November – 14 December 2001 final: 16–24 January 2002 |colspan="2"| 128 players,<ref>Classical champions ''Kramnik'' and ''Kasparov'' didn't participate. All other strongest players of the world took part, including former winners of the FIDE World Championship Anand, Khalifman (eliminated in third round) and Karpov (eliminated in first round).</ref> Quarter-finalists: '''{{flagicon|IND}}''' Anand, '''{{flagicon|Spain}}''' Shirov, '''{{flagicon|Ukraine}}''' Ivanchuk, '''{{flagicon|France}}''' Lautier, '''{{flagicon|Russia}}''' Svidler, '''{{flagicon|ISR}}''' Gelfand, '''{{flagicon|Ukraine}}''' Ponomariov and '''{{flagicon|Russia}}''' Bareev |colspan="2"|Semi-finals (4-game matches): '''{{flagicon|Ukraine}}''' Ponomariov beat '''{{flagicon|Russia}}''' Svidler, '''{{flagicon|Ukraine}}''' Ivanchuk beat '''{{flagicon|IND}}''' Anand | Moscow, January 2002 8-game match '''{{flagicon|Ukraine}}''' '''Ponomariov''' won 4½–2½<ref name="reunification">Reunification Match with Kasparov never took place</ref> |- |2004 (FIDE) |Tripoli June–July 2004 7 round, mini-match, knockout tournament with relatively quick time controls |colspan="2"| 128 players,<ref>''Kasparov, Anand, Kramnik, Svidler, Shirov, Ponomariov, Leko, J. Polgár, Gelfand, Bareev, Karpov'' and Israeli players refused to participate; Morozevich was absent before the first round</ref> Quarter-finalists: '''{{flagicon|BUL}}''' Topalov, '''{{flagicon|Russia}}''' Kharlov, '''{{flagicon|UZB}}''' Kasimdzhanov, '''{{flagicon|Russia}}''' Grischuk, '''{{flagicon|AZE}}''' Radjabov, '''{{flagicon|CUB}}''' Dominguez, '''{{flagicon|ENG}}''' Adams, '''{{flagicon|ARM}}''' Akopian<ref>Ivanchuk, Short, Malakhov, Nisipeanu, Sokolov, Dreev, Akopian, Bacrot, Gurevich, Rublevsky, were eliminated</ref> |colspan="2"|Semi-finals (4-game matches): {{flagicon|ENG}} Adams beat {{flagicon|AZE}} Radjabov {{flagicon|UZB}} Kasimdzhanov beat {{flagicon|BUL}} Topalov | Tripoli, July 2004 6-game match Drawn 3–3; {{flagicon|UZB}} '''Kasimdzhanov''' won rapid playoff 1½–½<ref name="reunification" /> |- style="background:#DDDDDD;" !colspan="7" align="center"| FIDE World Chess Championship, 2005 |- style="background:#cccccc;" ! Year !colspan="2" align="center"| Candidates format !colspan="3" align="center"| Seeded in Final !Championship Final |- |2005 (FIDE) |colspan="2"|None, 8 players seeded in final: |colspan="3"|{{col-begin}}{{col-break}}'''{{flagicon|UZB}}''' Kasimdzhanov (FIDE champion); '''{{flagicon|ENG}}''' Adams (as FIDE 2004 finalist); '''{{flagicon|HUN}}''' Leko (as classical 2004 finalist),<ref>''Kramnik'' (as classical 2004 finalist) declined the invitation</ref> '''{{flagicon|Russia}}''' Morozevich (on rating){{col-break}}'''{{flagicon|BUL}}''' Topalov (on rating), '''{{flagicon|IND}}''' Anand (on rating), '''{{flagicon|HUN}}''' J. Polgár (on rating) '''{{flagicon|Russia}}''' Svidler (on rating)<ref>''Kasparov'' had retired from competition. Kramnik and Kasparov were replaced by J. Polgar and Svidler on rating.</ref> {{col-end}} |San Luis: 8 players, double round robin, September–October 2005 1 '''{{flagicon|BUL}}''' '''Topalov''': 10/14 2-3 '''{{flagicon|IND}}''' Anand 8½/14 2-3 '''{{flagicon|Russia}}''' Svidler 8½/14 4 '''{{flagicon|Russia}}''' Morozevich 7/14 |- style="background:#DDDDDD;" |}

== Reunified title (since 2006) == After the reunification of the FIDE and "classical" titles, the Chess World Cup and FIDE Grand Prix series were introduced as qualification for the Candidates Tournament. The Swiss-system FIDE Grand Swiss was introduced in the latter half of 2019, acting as another qualification path for the 2020 Candidates Tournament.<ref name="Grand Swiss">{{cite web |title=FIDE Grand Swiss update (archive) |url=https://www.fide.com/component/content/article/1-fide-news/11442-fide-grand-swiss-update.html |publisher=FIDE |access-date=4 April 2019 |date=19 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190307192659/https://www.fide.com/component/content/article/1-fide-news/11442-fide-grand-swiss-update.html |archive-date=2019-03-07 }}</ref>

{| border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="border:1px solid #aaa; border-collapse:collapse" |-style="background:#DDDDDD;" !colspan=7| '''Reunification Match''' |- style="background:#cccccc;" ! '''Year''' !colspan=2| !colspan=2| '''Seeded in Final''' !colspan=2| '''Championship Match''' |- | 2006 |colspan=2| Reunification match |colspan=2| {{flagicon|BUL}} Topalov (FIDE champion) {{flagicon|RUS}} Kramnik (Classical champion) |colspan=2| Elista, October 2006 12-game match Drawn 6–6 {{flagicon|RUS}} '''Kramnik''' won rapid playoff 2½–1½ |- style="background:#DDDDDD;" !colspan=7| '''World Chess Championships after the Reunification''' |- style="background:#cccccc;" ! '''Years''' ! '''Qualification format''' ! '''Qualifiers''' ! '''Candidates Format''' ! '''Candidates Winner(s)''' ! '''Seeded in Final''' ! '''Championship Final''' |- |rowspan=3| 2005–2007 | FIDE World Chess Championship 2004 Champion | {{flagicon|UZB}} Kasimdzhanov |rowspan=3| '''Candidates Matches 2007''' Elista, May–June 2007 16 players, two rounds of matches 4 players qualify for championship tournament |rowspan=3| {{flagicon|ARM}} Aronian {{flagicon|ISR}} Gelfand {{flagicon|RUS}} Grischuk {{flagicon|HUN}} Leko |rowspan=3| {{flagicon|RUS}} Kramnik<ref>Kramnik took the place of Topalov in the tournament, who in return received privileges in the 2007-10 cycle.</ref> (2006 Champion) 2nd-4th in 2005: {{flagicon|IND}} Anand {{flagicon|RUS}} Svidler {{flagicon|RUS}} Morozevich |rowspan=3| Mexico City, September 2007 8 player double round robin tournament 1. {{flagicon|IND}} Anand, 9.0/14 2-3 {{flagicon|RUS}} Kramnik 8.0/14 2-3 {{flagicon|ISR}} Gelfand 8.0/14 |- | Rating lists | {{flagicon|HUN}} Leko {{flagicon|ENG}} Adams {{flagicon|HUN}} Polgár {{flagicon|Spain}} Shirov {{flagicon|FRA}} Bacrot |- | Chess World Cup 2005 Top 10 qualified (excluding rating qualifiers) | {{flagicon|UKR}} Ponomariov {{flagicon|ARM}} Aronian {{flagicon|RUS}} Grischuk {{flagicon|RUS}} Bareev {{flagicon|ISR}} Gelfand {{flagicon|RUS}} Rublevsky {{flagicon|TUR}} Gurevich {{flagicon|USA}} Kamsky {{flagicon|NOR}} Carlsen {{flagicon|RUS}} Malakhov<ref>As Bacrot (3rd) qualified by rating, his World Cup qualification spot passed to 11th placed Malakhov.</ref> |- | 2008 |colspan=3| Rematch |colspan=2| {{flagicon|IND}} Anand (2007 Champion) {{flagicon|RUS}} Kramnik (2006 Champion) | Bonn, October 2008 12-game match {{flagicon|IND}} '''Anand''' won 6½–4½ to retain the title. |- |rowspan=2| 2007–2010 | World Chess Championship 2006 Runner-up | {{flagicon|BUL}} Topalov |rowspan=2| '''Candidates Match 2009''' Sofia, February 2009 8-game match |rowspan=2| {{flagicon|BUL}} Topalov (won 4½–2½) |rowspan=2| {{flagicon|IND}} Anand (2008 champion) |rowspan=2| Sofia, April–May 2010 12-game match {{flagicon|IND}} '''Anand''' won 6½–5½ to retain the title. |- | Chess World Cup 2007 1st qualified | {{flagicon|USA}} Kamsky |- |rowspan=6| 2008–2012 | 2009 Challenger Match Runner-up | {{flagicon|USA}} Kamsky |rowspan=6| '''Candidates Tournament 2011''' Kazan, May 2011,<ref>[http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=7000 chessbase.com]; Pairings for Candidates Matches are released</ref> 8 players, matches |rowspan=6| {{flagicon|ISR}} Gelfand |rowspan=6| {{flagicon|IND}} Anand (2010 champion) |rowspan=6| Moscow, May 2012 12-game match drawn 6–6 {{flagicon|IND}} '''Anand''' won rapid playoff 2½–1½ to retain the title |- | Chess World Cup 2009 1st qualified | {{flagicon|ISR}} Gelfand |- | 2010 World Championship Runner-up | {{flagicon|BUL}} Topalov<ref>[http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=6543 FIDE to move Candidates Matches, Topalov threatens boycott]</ref> |- | FIDE Grand Prix 2008–2010 Top 2 qualified | {{flagicon|ARM}} Aronian {{flagicon|AZE}} Radjabov {{flagicon|RUS}} ''Grischuk<ref name="Grischuk">Grischuk, third of FIDE Grand Prix, replaced Carlsen after he withdrew.</ref>'' |- | Rating lists Top two not yet qualified | <s>{{flagicon|NOR}} Carlsen</s> {{flagicon|Russia}} Kramnik |- | Organiser's wildcard | {{flagicon|AZE}} Mamedyarov |- |rowspan=4| 2011–2013 | 2010 World Championship Runner-up | {{flagicon|ISR}} Gelfand |rowspan=4| '''Candidates Tournament 2013''' London<ref name="FIDE Candidates Tournament 2013">[http://www.chessintranslation.com/2011/02/ilya-levitov-on-the-collapse-of-the-london-match/ Levitov announces FIDE plans for Candidates Tournament in the 2014 World Championship cycle]</ref>, March 2013 8 player double round-robin tournament |rowspan=4| {{flagicon|NOR}} Carlsen |rowspan=4| {{flagicon|IND}} Anand (2012 champion) |rowspan=4| Chennai, November 2013 12-game match '''{{flagicon|NOR}}''' '''Carlsen''' won 6½–3½ |- | Chess World Cup 2011 Top 3 qualified | {{flagicon|RUS}} Svidler {{flagicon|RUS}} Grischuk {{flagicon|UKR}} Ivanchuk |- | Rating lists | {{flagicon|NOR}} Carlsen {{flagicon|ARM}} Aronian {{flagicon|RUS}} Kramnik |- | Organiser's wildcard | {{flagicon|AZE}} Radjabov<ref name="ReferenceA">Nominee of the organizing committee.</ref> |- |rowspan=5| 2012–2014 | 2013 World Championship Runner-up | {{flagicon|IND}} Anand |rowspan=5| '''Candidates Tournament 2014''' Khanty-Mansiysk,<ref>[http://www.fide.com/index.php?option=com_fidecalendar&view=fidecalendar&ny=2014 FIDE Calendar 2014]</ref>, March 2014<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.fide.com/component/content/article/1-fide-news/6020-fide-announces-dates-for-world-chess-championship-cycles.html |title=FIDE announces dates for world chess championship cycles |access-date=2013-03-08 |archive-date=2013-03-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130318175053/http://www.fide.com/component/content/article/1-fide-news/6020-fide-announces-dates-for-world-chess-championship-cycles.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> 8 player double round-robin tournament |rowspan=5| {{flagicon|IND}} Anand |rowspan=5| {{flagicon|NOR}} Carlsen (2013 champion) |rowspan=5| Sochi, November 2014 12-game match '''{{flagicon|NOR}}''' '''Carlsen''' won 6½-4½ to retain the title |- | Chess World Cup 2013 Top 2 qualified | {{flagicon|RUS}} Kramnik {{flagicon|RUS}} Andreikin |- | FIDE Grand Prix 2012–2013 Top 2 qualified | {{flagicon|BUL}} Topalov {{flagicon|AZE}} Mamedyarov |- | Rating lists | {{flagicon|ARM}} Aronian {{flagicon|RUS}} Karjakin |- | Organiser's wildcard | {{flagicon|RUS}} Svidler<ref name="ReferenceA" /> |- |rowspan=5| 2014–2016 | 2014 World Championship Runner-up | {{flagicon|IND}} Anand

|rowspan=5| '''Candidates Tournament 2016''' Moscow, March 2016 8 player double round-robin tournament |rowspan=5| {{flagicon|RUS}} Karjakin |rowspan=5| {{flagicon|NOR}} Carlsen (2014 champion) |rowspan=5| New York City, November 2016 12-game match drawn 6–6 {{flagicon|NOR}} '''Carlsen''' won rapid playoff 3–1 to retain the title |- | FIDE Grand Prix 2014–15 Top 2 qualified | {{flagicon|USA}} Caruana {{flagicon|USA}} Nakamura |- | Chess World Cup 2015 Top 2 qualified | {{flagicon|RUS}} Karjakin {{flagicon|RUS}} Svidler |- | Rating lists | {{flagicon|BUL}} Topalov {{flagicon|NED}} Giri<ref name="2016announce" /> |- | Organiser's wildcard | {{flagicon|ARM}} Aronian<ref name="2016announce">{{Cite web |url=https://www.fide.com/component/content/article/1-fide-news/9179-2016-fide-world-chess-candidates-tournament.html |title=World Chess Candidates Tournament (FIDE) |access-date=2015-11-11 |archive-date=2015-11-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151112193033/http://www.fide.com/component/content/article/1-fide-news/9179-2016-fide-world-chess-candidates-tournament.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> |- |rowspan=5| 2017–2018 | 2016 World Championship Runner-up | {{flagicon|RUS}} Karjakin |rowspan=5| '''Candidates Tournament 2018''' Berlin, March 2018 8 player double round-robin tournament |rowspan=5| {{flagicon|USA}} Caruana |rowspan=5| {{flagicon|NOR}} Carlsen (2016 champion) |rowspan=5| London, November 2018 12-game match drawn 6–6 {{flagicon|NOR}} '''Carlsen''' won rapid playoff 3–0 to retain the title<ref name = "World Chess London">{{Cite web |url=https://london2018.worldchess.com/ |title=World Chess London |access-date=2018-03-27 |archive-date=2017-12-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171207230309/https://london2018.worldchess.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> |- | Chess World Cup 2017 Top 2 qualified | {{flagicon|ARM}} Aronian {{flagicon|CHN}} Ding |- | FIDE Grand Prix 2017 Top 2 qualified | {{flagicon|AZE}} Mamedyarov {{flagicon|RUS}} Grischuk |- | Rating lists | {{flagicon|USA}} Caruana {{flagicon|USA}} So<ref name="2018announce" /> |- | Organiser's wildcard | {{flagicon|RUS}} Kramnik<ref name="2018announce">[http://en.chessbase.com/post/kramnik-to-play-2018-candidates Kramnik to play 2018 Candidates]</ref> |- |rowspan=6| 2019–2021 | 2018 World Championship Runner-up | {{flagicon|USA}} Caruana |rowspan=6| '''Candidates Tournament 2020–21''' Yekaterinburg, Mar-Apr 2020 & Apr 2021 8 player double round-robin tournament |rowspan=6| {{flagicon|RUS}} Nepomniachtchi |rowspan=6| {{flagicon|NOR}} Carlsen (2018 champion) |rowspan=6| Dubai, November–December 2021 14-game match {{flagicon|NOR}} '''Carlsen''' won to retain title, 7½–3½ |- | Chess World Cup 2019 Top 2 qualified | <s>{{flagicon|AZE}} Radjabov</s> {{flagicon|CHN}} Ding |- | FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament 2019 1st qualified<ref name="Grand Swiss"/> | {{flagicon|CHN}} Wang |- | FIDE Grand Prix 2019 Top 2 qualified | {{flagicon|RUS}} Grischuk {{flagicon|RUS}} Nepomniachtchi |- | Rating lists | {{flagicon|NED}} Giri ''{{flagicon|FRA}} Vachier-Lagrave'' |- | Organiser's wildcard | {{flagicon|RUS}} Alekseenko |- |rowspan=6| 2021–2023 | 2021 World Championship Runner-up | {{flagicon|RUS}} Nepomniachtchi |rowspan=6| '''Candidates Tournament 2022''' Madrid, June–July 2022 8 player double round-robin tournament |rowspan=6| {{flagicon|RUS}} Nepomniachtchi ''{{flagicon|CHN}} Ding'' |rowspan=6| <s>{{flagicon|NOR}} Carlsen (2021 champion)</s><ref>Carlsen refused to defend his title.</ref> |rowspan=6| Astana, April–May 2023 14-game match<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fide.com/news/2180 |title=Astana to host FIDE World Championship match 2023 |author= |date=19 January 2023 |website=fide.com |publisher=FIDE |access-date=29 January 2023 |quote=}}</ref> drawn 7–7 {{flagicon|CHN}} '''Ding''' won rapid playoff 2½–1½ |- | Wildcard | {{flagicon|AZE}} Radjabov |- | Chess World Cup 2021 Top 2 qualified | {{flagicon|POL}} Duda <s>{{flagicon|RUS}} Karjakin</s><ref>Disqualified by FIDE</ref> |- | FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament 2021 Top 2 qualified<ref name="Grand Swiss"/> | {{flagicon|FRA}} Firouzja {{flagicon|USA}} Caruana |- | FIDE Grand Prix 2022 Top 2 qualified | {{flagicon|USA}} Nakamura {{flagicon|HUN}} Rapport |- | Rating list | ''{{flagicon|CHN}} Ding'' |- |rowspan=5| 2023–2024 | 2023 World Championship Runner-up | {{flagicon|RUS}} Nepomniachtchi |rowspan=5| '''Candidates Tournament 2024''' Toronto, April 2024<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/2024-candidates-tournaments-to-be-held-in-toronto | title=FIDE Candidates and Women's Candidates 2024 to be Held in Toronto | date=27 March 2023 }}</ref> 8 player double round-robin tournament |rowspan=5| {{flagicon|IND}} Gukesh |rowspan=5| {{flagicon|CHN}} Ding (2023 champion) |rowspan=5| Singapore, November–December 2024 14-game match {{flagicon|IND}} '''Gukesh''' won 7½–6½ |- | Chess World Cup 2023 Top 3 qualified<ref name=fide24>{{Cite web |title=FIDE reforms the qualifications paths to the Candidates Tournament |url=https://www.fide.com/news/2138 |website=FIDE}}</ref> | <s>{{flagicon|NOR}} Carlsen</s> {{flagicon|IND}} Praggnanandhaa {{flagicon|USA}} Caruana ''{{flagicon|AZE}} Abasov'' |- | FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament 2023 Top 2 qualified<ref name=fide24/> | {{flagicon|IND}} Vidit {{flagicon|USA}} Nakamura |- |FIDE Circuit 2023 1st qualified<ref name=fide24/> | {{flagicon|IND}} Gukesh |- | Rating list | {{flagicon|FRA}} Firouzja |- |rowspan=5| 2024–2026 | FIDE Circuit 2024 1st qualified<ref name=fide26/> | {{flagicon|USA}} Caruana |rowspan=5| '''Candidates Tournament 2026''' Paphos, March–April 2026 8 player double round-robin tournament |rowspan=5| {{flagicon|UZB}} Sindarov |rowspan=5| {{flagicon|IND}} Gukesh (2024 champion) |rowspan=5| TBD |- | FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament 2025 Top 2 qualified<ref name=fide26/> | {{flagicon|NED}} Giri {{flagicon|GER}} Blübaum |- | Chess World Cup 2025 Top 3 qualified<ref name=fide26>{{Cite web |title=Changes to qualification paths for the Candidates Tournament |url=https://www.fide.com/news/2863 |website=FIDE}}</ref> | {{flagicon|UZB}} Sindarov {{flagicon|CHN}} Wei {{flagicon|RUS}} Esipenko |- | FIDE Circuit 2025 1st qualified<ref name=fide26/> | {{flagicon|IND}} Praggnanandhaa |- | Rating list | {{flagicon|USA}} Nakamura |- style="background:#cccccc;" ! '''Years''' ! '''Qualification format''' ! '''Qualifiers''' ! '''Candidates Format''' ! '''Candidates Winner(s)''' ! '''Seeded in Final''' ! '''Championship Final''' |}

==Notes== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==References== * [http://www.mark-weeks.com/chess/wcc-indy.htm FIDE World Championship events 1948-1990], Mark Weeks' chess pages * [http://www.mark-weeks.com/chess/wcc-indx.htm World Championship events 1991-present], Mark Weeks' chess pages * [http://rybkaforum.net/cgi-bin/rybkaforum/topic_show.pl?tid=22561 World Championships pages] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930073510/http://rybkaforum.net/cgi-bin/rybkaforum/topic_show.pl?tid=22561 |date=2018-09-30 }}, Rybka Chess Community Forum

Category:Candidates Tournaments Category:World Chess Championships Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1948 Category:FIDE competitions Category:Interzonal chess tournaments