FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky spoke about the budget for the 2026 Candidates Tournament. Sutovsky says the tournament budget is $3,000,000, explains that viewership is not the most important factor, and calls the Candidates a premium event.

Emil Sutovsky

Emil Sutovsky

FIDE CEO

“The budget we see as the minimal one for the Candidates — is 3 million USD. Anything above that allows us to improve the program, invest in the broadcast, invite more guests. The first step is always sponsors. You need to know the money is there. When a significant part of the budget is already secured, negotiating the location and venue becomes much easier.

Money we have in chess is largely due to our status and the prestige. The chess economy isn’t built on eyeballs alone. It just doesn’t work here. If the economy of chess would be based solely on the eyeballs, we wouldn’t have as high prize funds as we have now. It’s much more of a premium product. And Candidates is the premium of the premium. It’s something important.

I hope the players just feel they came to a good tournament. Everything else is behind the scenes, and that’s where it should stay.”

The FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 takes place from March 28 to April 16, at the Cap St Georges Hotel and Resort in Pegeia, Cyprus. The prize fund for the event is €1,000,000 including €700,000 for the Open tournament and €300,000 for the Women’s.

Credit: Michal Walusza / FIDE