FIDE Candidates 2026: What is the tie-breaker format in women’s category?

The FIDE Candidates 2026 is advancing to its final stages, and the women’s category in particular has been tightly contested.

Ahead of Round 11 which will happen on Saturday, April 11, India’s R Vaishali holds a slender lead of 0.5 up top with six points followed by China’s Zhu Jiner and Ukraine’s Anna Muzychuk who are both tied for second place with 5.5 points.

Points table: Women’s Category (Updated until Round 10)

1. R. Vaishali – 6

2. Zhu Jiner – 5.5

2. Anna Muzychuk – 5.5

4. Aleksandra Goryachkina – 5

4. Bibisara Assaubayeva – 5

4. Kateryna Lagno – 5

7. Divya Deshmukh – 4.5

8. Tan Zhongyi – 3.5

Here are the Tie-Breaker regulations for the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026

Tie-Breaker Regulations

If there is a tie for first place after 14 rounds, a playoff to determine the winner shall be played. The play-off may consist of up to three stages.

Stage 1:

a) If there are 2 players tied, after a drawing for colors made on the day of Round 14, a match of two games shall be played with a time control of 15 minutes for each player + 10 seconds increment per move, starting from move 1.

b) If there are between 3 and 6 players (inclusive) tied, after pairings made on the day of Round 14, a single round robin tournament shall be played with a time control of 15 minutes for each player + 10 seconds increment per move, starting from move 1.

c) If there are either 7 or 8 players tied, after pairings made on the day of Round 14, a single round robin tournament shall be played with a time control of 10 minutes for each player + 5 seconds increment per move, starting from move 1.

Stage 2: Played among players who remain tied for first place after Stage 1

a) If there are 2 players tied, after a drawing for colors, a match of two games shall be played with a time control of 3 minutes for each player + 2 seconds increment per move, starting from move 1.

b) If there are more than 2 players tied, after new pairings, a single round robin tournament shall be played with a time control of 3 minutes for each player + 2 seconds increment per move, starting from move 1.

Stage 3: Played among players who remain tied for first place after Stage 2

a) A knockout tournament shall be played. If there are more than two players, the knockout bracket shall be determined by drawing of lots. Each match shall consist of one game played with a time control of 3 minutes for each player + 2 seconds increment per move, starting from move 1. The colours for the game shall be determined by a drawing of lots.

b) If the game in clause a) is drawn, another game shall be played with the colors reversed with a time control of 3 minutes for each player + 2 seconds increment per move, starting from move 1.

c) If the game in clause b) is drawn, then one sudden death game shall be played.

Sudden Death Regulations

• White will have 4 minutes + 2 seconds increment per move, starting from move 1.

• Both players will submit a time bid – specifying how much starting time they are willing to play with as Black, also with a 2-second increment per move, starting from move 1. A bid cannot be more than 4 minutes. The player who submits the lowest time wins the bid and plays with Black. If the players make exactly the same bid, Black starts with that amount of time; colors will be determined by drawing of lots.

• If the sudden death game is drawn, Black will win the match.

Tie-Breaker Regulations for other positions

If a playoff for first place is played, ties for all positions except for first place shall be broken according to the following criteria, in order of priority:

a) The later round reached in Stage III of the playoff .

b) The higher number of points scored in Stage II of the playoff.

c) The higher number of points scored in Stage I of the playoff.

If there is no tie for first place after 14 rounds, ties for all positions shall be broken according to the following criteria, in order of priority:

a) Sonneborn-Berger System.

b) Total number of wins in the tournament.

c) The results of the games between the players involved in the tie.

d) Drawing of lots.

Published on Apr 13, 2026

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