
Qualification paths - https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=World_Chess_Championship_2026
I tried to include most of the plausible candidates but if your favorite player is missing, mention them in the comments and I'll add them
Resolves to the candidates who qualify AND accept their invitation to the candidates tournament (per FIDE) even if they don't end up playing. If they qualify as an alternate player and accept, that counts too
People are also trading
@dlin007 Looks like it was mostly one trader.
That said, if Hikaru wants the rating spot, and is willing to get to 40 games this year, it's probably his. This assumes that Magnus doesn't take that slot.
It's path E at (https://handbook.fide.com/files/handbook/FIDE_Candidates_Tournament_2026_Qualification_Paths.pdf)
So the question is really on how much he wants to play, which could change.
@DanielTilkin is it his to lose though? the counting starts from August 2025 and he's only 22 points ahead of his chief rival who is a pretty volatile player and could catch up or overtake him

He also needs to play 40 games this calendar year, which he didn't come close to doing last year despite playing the candidates. if he does manage to grind games against his motivation, that might put his rating at risk.
edit: just seen he's at 8 games so only needs 32 games. not sure if he's playing the world cup or grand swiss, but yeah i can see how his qualification is mostly just completely dependent on how motivated he is
@dlin007 will you add any more options? If so, I’m confused how the “Other” option could resolve YES
@MikeLinksvayer that's not correct at all. This is an unlinked binary market where each option can resolve YES indepedently. The Other option does not split, it was made manually by the market creator and is called "Other (someone else not on this list)"
@bens https://www.fide.com/fabiano-caruana-wins-fide-circuit-2024/#:~:text=Fabiano%20Caruana%20has%20secured%20victory,contenders%20for%20the%20top%20position. no mention of him accepting here, or in any other FIDE communications, AFAICT
@bens Good point. For the 2024 Candidates, I think the official invites didn't go out until January of 2024, or shortly before. Carlsen declined on Jan 13th, 2024.
There's not even a site or terms yet, so it wouldn't make sense for Caruana to "accept" yet.
If someone qualifies, by declines to play in the candidates, that will still resolve to yes I presume?
Edit: nvm I see that you’ve specified they must also accept their invitation to play
World Cup top 4s

Pre-registering my take early so I see how it ages: I'm extremely bearish on Abdusattorov and predict he won't come even close to qualifying. He's a 2800-level fighter and practical player but his chess in 2024 has been abjectly mediocre and unimpressive and he's been surviving on bad positions and swindles.
@Lorenzo ditto. There is a strange plateau when it should be more of a regular curve. I bet those on the plateau