‘Pragg is third favourite’: Carlsen rates Candidates 2026 line-up

World No. 1 and five-time World Champion Magnus Carlsen has named Americans Hikaru Nakamura and Fabiano Caruana as favourites for the 2026 Candidates, with India’s R Praggnanandhaa as the third contender. Praggnanandhaa is the only Indian among eight players competing to challenge World Champion D Gukesh. The tournament starts on March 28 in Cyprus.