World Rapid and Blitz Champions to Qualify for Total Chess World Championship Tour
FIDE and Norway Chess have agreed on the key qualification pathways for the Total Chess Tour 2026, the pilot tournament of the new world championship concept. The format is part of the broader Total Chess World Championship Tour, that will crown an overall champion across Fast Classic, Rapid, and Blitz, officially approved by FIDE. The Tour is expected to become one of the most prestigious additions to the elite chess calendar. The Total Chess initiative, launched by Norway Chess and approved by FIDE in October 2025, is designed to identify “The Total Chess Player”, a versatile competitor who excels across multiple time controls. The Tour will ultimately consist of four events per year in global host cities and award the title of FIDE World Combined Champion. A pilot event is planned from early to mid-October 2026. The official and full championship season to crown the FIDE World Combined Champion will begin in 2027. Qualification pathways for Total Chess Tour 2026 The three medalists of the 2025 World Rapid Championship and the finalists of the 2025 World Blitz Championship will earn the right to participate in the Total Chess Tour 2026. In addition, world champions will also qualify for the inaugural Total Chess World Championship Tour in 2027. The main qualification pathways for participation in the pilot tournament have been approved as follows: 1–2. The reigning World Champions, Gukesh Dommaraju and Ju Wenjun 3–5. The three medalists of the 2025 World Rapid Championship 6–7. The finalists of the 2025 World Blitz Championship 8–16. The top nine players in the classical rating list as of January 1, 2026 17–18. The winners of the 2026 Candidates and the 2026 Women’s Candidates. 19–21. The top three players in the classical rating list as of June 1, 2026 (excluding those already qualified) 22–24. FIDE Circuit / FIDE Open Circuit (special ranking, including only open events). The full Regulations, including player replacement rules, will be published by December 22, 2025. About Total Chess World Championship Tour The Total Chess World Championship Tour introduces a new combined world title spanning Fast Classic, Rapid, and Blitz. Fast Classic is an innovation of classical chess with a shorter time limit, down to 45 minutes plus a 30-second increment, and will receive classical rating. The Tour will feature a minimum $2.7 million annual prize pool, including at least $750,000 for each of the first three events and $450,000 for the Finals (with four players), plus performance bonuses.
FIDE announces World Cadet Championship Cycle 2026: Registration for World Cup U8-U12 is now open
Starting in 2026, FIDE is introducing a revamped and elevated championship cycle for the Under 8, Under 10, and Under 12 age categories to make it more attractive, interesting and prestigious. The World Championship U8-U12 (formerly the World Cadet Championship) has been renamed the FIDE World Cup for Youngsters, with competitive conditions remaining unchanged. The 2026 FIDE World Cup U8-U12 will be held from June 15-28 in Batumi, Georgia, following the same system as the last year’s World Cadet Championship U8, U10, U12. Every national federation can register one invited player per category (under 8, 10, and 12, both Boys and Girls). The total of six players and one head of delegation with valid FIDE ID are invited by the Organizer. The players placed 1-3 in the previous U8, U10, U12 World Cadets Championships & World Cadets Cup, and the respective champions (1st ranked) of the last Continental Cadet Championships also will be considered as the invited players. On a rest day (June 22), participants can take part in several side activities. These include a Delegation Coaches Blitz Tournament with a substantial prize fund of €4,000, the Chess Composition championship, engaging excursions, and a football match between FIDE and Georgian Chess Federation. Special prizes await the top finishers across all six playing categories. The top three players in each category will receive awards, including Cups, Medals, Diplomas, and gadgets such as the latest models of MacBook Air, iPhone, or iPad (depending on placement). In addition, the first, second, and third-place winners of each age and gender category will receive free full board accommodation for the FIDE World Championships U8, U10, U12 later in the same year. FIDE member federations shall complete the registration of the World Cup participants by April 15, 2026. World Championships U8, U10, U12 Invitation letter will be published in due time as the tournament is scheduled for November 10-17. More information about the FIDE World Cup U8-U12 can be found on the official website: wcc2026.fide.com/ Regulations for FIDE World Cadets’ Championship Cycle 2026 (PDF) The official email: wcc@fide.com