The World Chess Federation is pleased to announce the players, dates and venue of the 2014 the FIDE Candidates Tournament.

The FIDE Candidates Tournament takes place March 12th-April 1st, 2014 in Khanty-Mansiysk (Russia).

The Prize Fund to be shared by the players totals 600,000 EUR. The FIDE Candidates Tournament will determine the challenger who will face, later this year, the current title holder World Champion Magnus Carlsen for the prestigious FIDE World Championship.

The eight participants are Viswanathan Anand of India, Levon Aronian of Armenia, Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan and four Russian players – Vladimir Kramnik, Peter Svidler, Sergey Karjakin and Dmitry Andreikin.

The average rating of this event is 2766. The first round will start Thursday, March 13th 2014 at 3 p.m. local time, following the opening ceremony on 12th of March.

The participants will play a double round robin tournament (14 rounds). The players who are from the same federation will play each other in rounds 1, 2, 3 and 8, 9, 10. The parings have been done one month before the start of the tournament and are published here.

The time control is 120 minutes for the first 40 moves, 60 minutes for the next 20 moves and then 15 minutes for the rest of the game plus an additional 30 seconds per move starting from move 61.

  Viswanathan Anand (IND, former World Champion)

  Vladimir Kramnik (RUS, World Cup 2013 winner)

  Dmitry Andreikin (RUS, World Cup 2013 finalist)

  Veselin Topalov (BUL, Grand-Prix 2012-13 winner)

  Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (AZE, Grand-Prix 2012-13 runner-up)

  Levon Aronian (ARM, rating list 2012-13)

  Sergey Karjakin (RUS, rating list 2012-13)

  Peter Svidler (RUS, host nominee)