Magnus Carlsen didn’t hold back when asked about Anish Giri’s path to the 2026 Candidates. Speaking after his latest Title Tuesday victory, the former world champion said the Dutchman benefited from favorable pairings but still earned his seat.
“Giri, I think, got the friendliest pairings in the whole tournament for a long time, but then in the end, he took his chances while the others didn’t. So, it was very deserved,” Carlsen said.
Giri won the 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss in Samarkand with 8/11, beating Hans Niemann in the final round. This marks his third Candidates appearance after 2016 and 2020–21. Alongside him, German grandmaster Matthias Bluebaum claimed the second spot by finishing on 7.5/11 with superior tiebreaks over Alireza Firouzja and Vincent Keymer.
Comfortable Win in Title Tuesday
Carlsen was speaking after securing his 40th career Title Tuesday win on Chess.com, his second in a row. Playing in the 5+0 blitz format, he said the time control suited him.
“I usually am up on time in my games. I’m not particularly good at flagging, but I am good at being up on time,” Carlsen explained.
This week’s run was smoother than his previous outing: “There were some shakyish moments, but this was definitely one of my more comfortable Title Tuesday wins.” He credited Jan-Krzysztof Duda, who finished second, for defending well and keeping things competitive.
A Wild Game Against Movahed
One of the highlights of Carlsen’s tournament was his sharp round-nine clash with young talent Sina Movahed. The game featured an unusual ending where Carlsen’s king dashed around the board to avoid perpetual check.
“That might be the most interesting game I’ve ever played in Titled Tuesday,” he said. “Probably not the best, but very satisfying. It was just a calculation battle with some unusual themes.”
Thoughts on Candidates and Qualifiers
Looking ahead to the 2026 Candidates, Carlsen expects Hikaru Nakamura to qualify via rating and Praggnanandhaa to secure the FIDE Circuit spot. He voiced concern about how FIDE tiebreak rules could decide who gets in:
“It’s incredibly cruel to decide the candidate spots by tiebreaks… I just don’t think it’s a good way to decide.”
When asked if he had favorites, Carlsen replied: “I don’t really hope for anybody. I generally hope to see the best players there. As long as Prague is in, there isn’t a lot to choose between.” He added that he would like to see Alireza Firouzja qualify, but wasn’t sure if the French-Iranian star would play the World Cup.
On Nakamura and Rivalry
Carlsen also reflected on Nakamura’s struggles in the new Champions Chess Tour format:
“Three tournaments in a row where he’s not really much of a factor in the fight for the top places is surprising. But he’ll be back. It just shows he’s maybe not quite as consistent as he was a couple years ago.”
Off the Board
The Norwegian finished the interview on a lighthearted note, joking about celebrating with Mario Kart and claiming he was ahead of his friends in FIFA the last time they played. He also revealed that while he and fellow grandmaster David Howell rarely play chess together, they gossip plenty about the chess world.
For Carlsen, who has stepped away from the World Championship cycle, these weekly blitz events have become his new battleground. And even while he focuses on online play, his comments on Giri and the Candidates show he’s still paying close attention to who will challenge for the ultimate crown.
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