Total Chess World Championship

[Rob Coles]

Norway Chess have announced today a "Total Chess World Championship Tour", endorsed by FIDE. There is to be a pilot event in 2026 and a full season of 4 tournaments (the last being a 4-player Final) in 2027.

https://www.chess.com/news/view/norway- ... nship-tour

The organizers behind Norway Chess have announced an ambitious new competition officially endorsed by the International Chess Federation (FIDE). The Total Chess World Championship Tour will crown an entirely new FIDE World Combined Champion across three time controls: "fast classical," rapid, and blitz.

The chess world will see yet another world championship title up for grabs with the creation of the new tour. The first full season is scheduled to launch in 2027, following a pilot event in the fall of 2026, and will feature four tournaments per year.

The events will have a total prize fund of $2.7 million and are set to take place around the world in venues which are yet to be determined.

"We are looking for 'The Total Chess Player'—a versatile, tactically intelligent, and technically skilled athlete who seamlessly adapts to multiple time controls,” said Kjell Madland, CEO of Norway Chess and of the new championship.

There are a number of cynical interpretations available.

One implication is that FIDE have presumably made up their minds about the "Fast Classic" time control counting towards standard rating. Bearing in mind that 6 weeks ago a Fast Classic pilot scheme of 3 tournaments was announced (with a promise of "a thorough analysis of the outcomes" to be made before any further decision), and just one of those tournaments having been played thus far, it seems a little rash to be signing contracts with Norway Chess...

This is mentioned in the article rather more definitively - whether mistakenly or because everyone concerned already considers it a done deal, can be left to the imagination.

The new format includes the "fast classical" format featuring a time control of 45 minutes with a 30-second increment, which will now count for classically-rated games under FIDE regulations.

[LawrenceCooper]

Norway Chess have announced today a "Total Chess World Championship Tour", endorsed by FIDE. There is to be a pilot event in 2026 and a full season of 4 tournaments (the last being a 4-player Final) in 2027.

https://www.chess.com/news/view/norway- ... nship-tour

The organizers behind Norway Chess have announced an ambitious new competition officially endorsed by the International Chess Federation (FIDE). The Total Chess World Championship Tour will crown an entirely new FIDE World Combined Champion across three time controls: "fast classical," rapid, and blitz.

The chess world will see yet another world championship title up for grabs with the creation of the new tour. The first full season is scheduled to launch in 2027, following a pilot event in the fall of 2026, and will feature four tournaments per year.

The events will have a total prize fund of $2.7 million and are set to take place around the world in venues which are yet to be determined.

"We are looking for 'The Total Chess Player'—a versatile, tactically intelligent, and technically skilled athlete who seamlessly adapts to multiple time controls,” said Kjell Madland, CEO of Norway Chess and of the new championship.

There are a number of cynical interpretations available.

One implication is that FIDE have presumably made up their minds about the "Fast Classic" time control counting towards standard rating. Bearing in mind that 6 weeks ago a Fast Classic pilot scheme of 3 tournaments was announced (with a promise of "a thorough analysis of the outcomes" to be made before any further decision), and just one of those tournaments having been played thus far, it seems a little rash to be signing contracts with Norway Chess...

This is mentioned in the article rather more definitively - whether mistakenly or because everyone concerned already considers it a done deal, can be left to the imagination.

The new format includes the "fast classical" format featuring a time control of 45 minutes with a 30-second increment, which will now count for classically-rated games under FIDE regulations.

It's worth mentioning that this event will offer two qualifying places to the Candidates!

[Roger de Coverly]

One implication is that FIDE have presumably made up their minds about the "Fast Classic" time control counting towards standard rating.

Aren't they intending to introduce a new rating category? If they aren't why is it logical to rate 45 30, but not for example 90 15 which is one of the move rates used in weekend tournaments with nomonal three and a half hour sessions?

[Roger de Coverly]

Norway Chess have announced today a "Total Chess World Championship Tour", endorsed by FIDE.

There seems to be financing available for this, but not for the mundane activity of entering a team for the European Championships.

[Rob Coles]

One implication is that FIDE have presumably made up their minds about the "Fast Classic" time control counting towards standard rating.

Aren't they intending to introduce a new rating category? If they aren't why is it logical to rate 45 30, but not for example 90 15 which is one of the move rates used in weekend tournaments with nomonal three and a half hour sessions?

I believe the proposal is that Fast Classic would count towards FIDE standard rating. That's based on this announcement Sept 5th:

https://www.fide.com/fide-launches-pilo ... rd-rating/

Also, thanks Lawrence, I saw in the announcement that there was a mention of Candidates route but I didn't see Sutovsky's statement it would be 2. I'd imagine that they intend to get rid of the rating spot that keeps finding ways to embarass them, and probably also to redirect the 3rd World Cup spot.

https://www.chessdom.com/two-players-fr ... andidates/

[LawrenceCooper]

Also, thanks Lawrence, I saw in the announcement that there was a mention of Candidates route but I didn't see Sutovsky's statement it would be 2. I'd imagine that they intend to get rid of the rating spot that keeps finding ways to embarass them, and probably also to redirect the 3rd World Cup spot.

I did ask that very question of Emil on X but without getting a reply.

[NickFaulks]

One implication is that FIDE have presumably made up their minds about the "Fast Classic" time control counting towards standard rating.

That happened several months ago, I'm sure.

I am no longer in the loop, but based on my own previous experience the discussion would have gone roughly like this.

FIDE to Commission.
Please confirm that this is a good idea.

Commission.
It's a terrible idea and it won't work.

FIDE.
That's great, you are instructed to draft regulations to implement it.

[Kevin Thurlow]

"FIDE to Commission.
Please confirm that this is a good idea.

Commission.
It's a terrible idea and it won't work.

FIDE.
That's great, you are instructed to draft regulations to implement it."

Thanks for confirming my suspicion!

[Paul Heaton]

I think the cynical interpretation is Carlsen will never play another game of what was historically considered classical chess again, outside (perhaps) some team events.

And people bend over backwards to induce him to play some form of chess.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

I had the impression Carlsen has an interest in remaining World Number One by rating. Would that still be possible if he only plays under this format?

[LawrenceCooper]

I had the impression Carlsen has an interest in remaining World Number One by rating. Would that still be possible if he only plays under this format?

Playing one Bundesliga game a year is currently enough.

[Matt Mackenzie]

Which is basically also how Hou Yifan is retaining her number 1 womens rating.

[LawrenceCooper]

Which is basically also how Hou Yifan is retaining her number 1 womens rating.

That was the case but she's played 15 rated games over the summer this year.

[LawrenceCooper]

Vidit's light-hearted take on the new event: https://www.instagram.com/p/DP6zCFsjP_2/

[Christopher Kreuzer]

That is funny. Good punchline.