If you are a fan of chess, you probably already know about the 2026 Candidates Tournament being held in Cyprus right now. Eight men are battling it out for the honour of becoming the challenger for the World Chess Championship. The FIDE (International Chess Federation) Candidates Tournament began on March 28 and ends on April 15. Well, these two women were playing in the Women’s Candidates Tournament, which men cannot qualify for or even participate in. And while this path offers a route to the open Candidates Tournament, it’s impossible to qualify for the Women’s Candidates Tournament if they don’t play in any women-only events.

Source: The Star April 05, 2026 15:03 UTC