Hikaru Nakamura shared his opinion on the Candidates Tournament and the World Championship match. Nakamura believes that winning the Candidates is harder than winning the match. Hikaru notes that for this reason, few players ever reach the match.

Hikaru Nakamura

Hikaru Nakamura

World's No. 2

“In my view, winning the Candidates is almost certainly harder than winning a World Championship. I think winning the Candidates is substantially harder.

Getting to the match, I think, your chances of winning a World Championship are far higher than winning the Candidates. That’s why it’s so difficult and why a lot of players never end up playing, for that exact reason.

Because winning the Candidates itself is just a bear.”

The FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 took place from March 28 to April 15, at the Cap St Georges Hotel and Resort in Pegeia, Cyprus. Hikaru Nakamura finished 5th in the tournament scoring 6.5/14 points. Nakamura has played in four Candidates tournaments. His best result was 2nd place in Toronto in 2024.

Credit: Crystal Fuller