American GM Hikaru Nakamura shared his opinion on the importance of experience at the Candidates Tournament in an interview with ‘the chess nerd’. Nakamura states that first-time players don’t win the Candidates, citing the tournament’s special format as one of the reasons.

Hikaru Nakamura

Hikaru Nakamura

World's No. 2, streamer

“I think it’s very important to have experience playing in a tournament like this. Because traditionally, a first-time player doesn’t win the Candidates.

And I think a big part of that has to do with not knowing what to expect. I’d also say that the Candidates Tournament is different from other tournaments in that it’s winner-takes-all.

Most tournaments are not winner-takes-all. You can win a couple of games, finish second, and be quite happy. But when you finish second in the Candidates Tournament, you’re supposed to be very, very unhappy.

I think it’s important to understand that.”

Indian GM Gukesh Dommaraju (2748) won the Candidates Tournament on his debut in 2024 at age 17, becoming the youngest-ever winner of the Candidates. First-time participants have won the event 11 times since the tournament began in 1950. The list of first-timers includes: Mikhail Tal, Tigran Petrosian, Boris Spassky, Bobby Fischer, Anatoly Karpov, Garry Kasparov, Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi.

Credit: Michal Walusza / FIDE