Experts Favor Fabiano Caruana as Top Contender for FIDE Candidates 2026 Title

Ahead of the FIDE Candidates 2026 tournament starting March 28 in Cyprus, Indian chess players Arjun Erigaisi and Hans Niemann have highlighted American Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana as the clear favorite to win. Erigaisi also supports Praggnanandhaa and Javokhir Sindarov but views Caruana's experience as decisive. Niemann similarly favors Caruana, assigning him a 70-75% chance to dethrone world champion Gukesh D, while noting other contenders like Praggnanandhaa, Sindarov, and Hikaru Nakamura, with varying expectations.