Hikaru Nakamura has completed his public “road to the Candidates” in good fashion. The American grandmaster secured the necessary conditions to qualify for the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament after a strong showing at the inaugural Washington Dulles Open, finishing the weekend after surviving tough tests from hungry juniors, converting an instructive fourth-round win, and taking a draw in the finale.
What happened on the boards
Nakamura opened the Dulles event with three clean results through the first three rounds, then converted an instructive win in Round 4 against IM L. M. S. T. De Silva with Alapin Sicilian Defense, before agreeing a peaceful draw with local GM Praveen Balakrishnan in the final round with Queen’s Gambit Declined opening. That sequence completed his tournament and — more importantly — completed the set of classical games he needed to meet FIDE’s eligibility window.
Across the weekend Nakamura displayed his trademark practical strengths: sound opening preparation, the bishop pair and dynamic pawn play when it mattered, and clinical endgame technique when opponents misstepped under pressure. Two standout themes at Dulles were (1) his ability to outmaneuver younger opponents in long, technical positions and (2) his willingness to grind slightly better positions rather than gamble for flashy complications — a pragmatic approach that paid off repeatedly.
Nakamura’s own take
“After I complete the two games today, I will have officially qualified for the tournament, barring something crazy happening.”
In a post-event video, Nakamura walked viewers through the fourth-round win — stressing central pawn expansion, the bishop pair and exploitation of passive moves — and the final-round draw. He also summed up the broader campaign:
“Over the course of these 22 games that I’ve played in the last month and a half, I gained a whopping one rating point despite scoring an incredible 21 points out of 22.”
He noted how difficult it is to move the rating needle even with dominant results and explained his short-term plans: selective events such as the Global Chess League are possible, but he will largely step back from classical tournaments to rest and prepare; his partner is due to give birth soon.
What this means for the Candidates picture
Nakamura’s qualification settles a marquee storyline heading into the 2026 Candidates: a top-tier, experienced match player who chose a volume-based route into the field rather than relying solely on elite invitation events. He brings elite rapid and blitz pedigree, deep practical experience, and a competitive temperament that has produced many high-pressure wins — all factors that will shape the tournament’s dynamics.
For the Washington Dulles Open and local chess
The small, well-run Dulles Open — a five-round Swiss with modest guaranteed prizes and FIDE-rated sections — benefited from Nakamura’s appearance. Local players received an up-close lesson in elite practical play, livestreams attracted wider interest, and the tournament’s profile rose substantially in its first edition.
Confirmed Candidates 2026 field (as of November 2025)
Below is the updated list of qualified players for the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament, incorporating Hikaru Nakamura’s confirmed qualification via the highest average rating route:
| Qualification Method | Player | Country | Age | Rating | World Ranking (Nov 2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 FIDE Circuit winner | Fabiano Caruana | United States | 33 | 2795 | 3 |
| 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss (winner) | Anish Giri | Netherlands | 31 | 2769 | 5 |
| 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss (runner-up) | Matthias Blübaum | Germany | 28 | 2680 | 43 |
| 2025 FIDE World Cup (top 3 finishers) | TBD | – | – | – | – |
| 2025 FIDE Circuit winner | TBD | – | – | – | – |
| Highest average rating (Aug 2025 – Jan 2026) | Hikaru Nakamura | United States | 37 | 2813 | 2 |
Nakamura’s inclusion fills the rating-based qualification slot — a path that sparked debate earlier in the year due to his decision to play numerous U.S. open tournaments to meet FIDE’s 40-game requirement. Despite criticism from some grandmasters, many defended Nakamura’s approach, pointing out that he made the process transparent and in accordance with FIDE regulations.
What’s next
Nakamura indicated he will step back from classical tournaments until the Candidates (he guessed April) to rest and prepare while possibly playing select events. With the qualification box checked, the chess world now turns to pairings, preparation and the question of how Nakamura — who has dominated online, rapid and blitz formats — will translate that form into the marathon that is the Candidates.
I’m the senior editor of Attacking Chess, a keen chess player, rated above 2300 in chess.com. You can challenge me or asking questions at Chess.com.
