Zhu Jiner qualifies for 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates Chess Tournament

Zhu Jiner is the first player to qualify for the 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates Chess Tournament. She qualified via the FIDE Women Grand Prix after her R8 game in Austria

FIDE Candidates Chess 2026 participants come via:

1. 2024-25 WGP 1st qualified Zhu Jiner
2. 2024-25 WGP 2nd Anna Muzychuk or Alexandra Goryachkina (live now)
3. 2025 Women’s World Cup 1st (Batumi, Georgia 5-29 July, see the chess calendar)
4. 2025 Women’s World Cup 2nd (Batumi, Georgia 5-29 July, see the chess calendar)
5. 2025 Women’s World Cup 3rd (Batumi, Georgia 5-29 July, see the chess calendar)
6. 2025 Grand Swiss 1st (Samarkand – Uzbekistan, 3-16 September, see the top chess events)
7. 2025 Grand Swiss 2nd (Samarkand – Uzbekistan, 3-16 September, see the top chess events)
8. FIDE Women’s Events 2024-25 series 1st

Zhu Jiner qualifies for 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates Chess Tournament. Today Anna Muzychuk or Alexandra Goryachkina can do the samehttps://t.co/kDLzZixRPo

— Chessdom (@chessdom) May 15, 2025

Congrats to Zhu Jiner on being the first player to clinch a spot in the 2026 FIDE Women's Candidates!!! 🥳🥳🥳

This will be her first Candidates (!), and there's a good chance she'll be the favourite to win it!

📷: P Nikiel#chess #womeninchess #FIDEWomenGrandPrix pic.twitter.com/7Sb8PNzn4H

— Women's Chess Coverage (@OnTheQueenside) May 14, 2025

Photo: Przemysław Nikiel