FIDE Candidates Chess Tournament 2024: Schedule, Host Nation, Venue, Format, Prize Money, Opening Ceremony Details & How To Buy Tickets

FIDE Candidates Chess Tournament 2024 is scheduled to be held in Toronto, Canada, between April 3 and April 23, 2024. In a landmark development for chess lovers in North America, it's the first instance when the Candidates Tournament is being hosted on the continent.

Top Grand Masters and International Masters in chess, arriving in Toronto, will showcase their talent in the Canadian spring to emerge victorious in the prestigious tournament.

Moreover, the 2024 edition introduces a novel concept where both the FIDE Candidates and FIDE Women's Candidates will run concurrently under one roof within the same time frame.

Where Will FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024 Be Held?

The Great Hall, Toronto, Canada will play host to the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024.

What is the schedule of the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024?

The FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024 will be held between April 3 and 23, 2024.

Who are the top participants in FIDE Candidates 2024?

Ian Nepomniachtchi, R Praggnanandhaa, Fabiano Caruana, Nijat Abasov, Magnus Carlsen, Vidit Gujrathi, Hikaru Nakamura, Alireza Firouzja, Gukesh D, Lei Tingjie, Kateryna Lagno, Aleksandra Goryachkina, Nurgyul Salimova, Anna Muzychuk, Vaishali R, Tan Zhongyi, Humpy Koneru.

Why Are Chess Players Participating in FIDE Candidates 2024?

The top-ranked chess players in the world compete in the FIDE Candidates for the sole purpose i.e. to determine the challenger for the World Champion title. Click Here To Know The Participants

How Do Chess Players Qualify for FIDE Candidates?

A painstaking qualification process has brought together eight players for each tournament, vying for the opportunity to contend for the world championship title and challenge World Champion Ding Liren and Women's World Champion Ju Wenjun later in the year.

What is the prize money for FIDE Candidates Winner?

The tournament offers substantial prize funds, with €500,000 (INR 4,51,23,000) allocated for the Candidates Tournament and €250,000 (INR 2,25,60,203) for the Women's Candidates Tournament.

The lineup is particularly intriguing as several young talents make their debut in the latter stages of the world championship cycle. It heralds a new era in chess, sparking speculation about whether these emerging talents will leave their mark this year or dominate the chess world in the coming cycles.

What is the format of FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024?

Both tournaments will follow a double round-robin format, ensuring each player competes against their seven opponents twice, once with white pieces and once with black. Over three weeks, the players will engage in 14 rounds of matches, with four designated rest days. The initial rest day, on April 8, coincides with the occurrence of a total solar eclipse visible across Toronto from 2:04 p.m. to 4:31 p.m., peaking at 3:19 p.m.

What are the events the Local Organising Committee For FIDE Candidates 2024 has planned?

FIDE and the Local Organising Committee (Canada) are dedicated to delivering an unforgettable chess festival, encompassing various side events and activities organized by local chess clubs. These include the Chess Olympiad torch relay, blitz and rapid tournaments, watch parties, chess documentary screenings, lectures, and masterclasses.

How fans can attend the FIDE Candidates Tournament?

Access to the main event, held at the Candidates Tournament venue, requires tickets, with prime slots already sold out. The FIDE Candidates Tournament will welcome the public through a ticketing system, with sales commencing today on the official website.

The ticketing options comprise general admission tickets granting access to the playing hall balcony and the fan zone, as well as VIP passes offering additional perks such as access to the VIP room with complimentary refreshments, personalised services, and priority registration for side events. Additionally, both daily tickets and packages encompassing all rounds of the tournament are available across all categories.

Prices in Canadian Dollars (CAD) for the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024:

Single-day General Admission: $49 (Saturdays and Sundays $64)
All-round General Admission package: $549
Single-day VIP: $169 (Saturdays and Sundays $199)
VIP Grand Package: $1999. Click Here

FIDE Candidates 2024 Fan Zone Attractions

The fan zone, hosted by local favourites GMs Eric Hansen and Aman Hambleton, will offer an immersive experience for enthusiasts. The online broadcast, featuring GM Viswanathan Anand and GM Irina Krush as commentators, is expected to draw millions of viewers.

Why was FIDE Candidates 2024 Almost Cancelled?

In a concerning turn of events, the tournament's fate was almost jeopardized due to delays in players' visa processing. On March 1, just a month before the event, FIDE sought assistance from the Canadian Government via social media to expedite visa approvals, as most players had yet to receive updates on their applications, despite submitting them months earlier.

When is FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024 Opening Ceremony being held?

The opening ceremony is scheduled for the evening of April 3, followed by the commencement of both tournaments on April 4 at 14:30 local time with the first round.