Inaugural Pia Cramling Cup and DGT Board Operator Seminar successfully held in Stockholm
The FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess was proud to co-organize the first-ever Pia Cramling Cup and the DGT Board Operator Certification Seminar, which took place in Stockholm, Sweden, alongside the prestigious and long-standing Rilton Cup. Inaugural Pia Cramling Cup Held in collaboration with Pia Cramling and the Stockholm Chess Federation on January 2, the 7-round FIDE-rated rapid tournament brought together 38 girls and women from seven countries. With free entry and strong organizational support, the Pia Cramling Cup reflected the Commission’s continued commitment to creating accessible, meaningful opportunities for girls and women in chess. Honoring a legend More than a tournament, the Pia Cramling Cup was a tribute to one of the most iconic figures in the history of women’s chess. A former world number one and a true pioneer of the game, Pia Cramling has inspired generations through her achievements at the board. Her personal presence and involvement throughout the event sent a powerful message to every participant: ambition, perseverance, and belief can take you far in chess and beyond. Tournament Results The competition concluded with the following results: 🥇 Winner: Agnesa Stepania Ter-Avetisjana (Latvia)🥈 Second place: Irina Tetenkina (Sweden)🥉 Third place: Susanne Hansson (Sweden) From the youngest participant, Miya Sundell, to the oldest, Paula Svensson, the tournament demonstrated how chess connects and empowers women of all ages, creating a shared space for learning, competition, and mutual respect. Connection across generations Adding to the special atmosphere of the Rilton Cup, Anna Cramling – a WFM and one of the world’s most recognized chess content creators – was competing simultaneously in the Rilton Cup. The connection to the Pia Cramling Cup was highlighted when Anastasia Sorokina, Chair of the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess, made the ceremonial first move on Anna Cramling’s board. Together with Pia Cramling, Anna has played a remarkable role in bringing chess to wider audiences, presenting the game in a way that is engaging, authentic, and always true to its values. DGT Board Operator Seminar Hosted at the same venue, the Scandic Continental Hotel, from January 3-4, the seminar unfolded in a vibrant chess atmosphere, with participants surrounded by one of Scandinavia’s most traditional international tournaments. The seminar was organised by DGT (Digital Game Technology) in cooperation with the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess, the Stockholm Chess Federation, and the Rilton Cup organisers, highlighting the strong and growing partnership between DGT and the Commission. A total of 26 participants took part in the seminar, representing eight countries: Sweden, Mexico, Latvia, Denmark, Iceland, Romania, Portugal, and Slovenia. Particularly encouraging was the strong female participation, with 14 women attending. It reflects the Commission’s ongoing commitment to improving gender balance in technical and professional chess roles, including officiating, tournament operations, and chess broadcasting. As part of this commitment, the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess fully waived the participation fees for all female attendees, ensuring access to high-level technical education and supporting women’s representation in areas of chess that remain traditionally male-dominated. Creating such opportunities is a key part of the Commission’s broader mission to promote equality, visibility, and sustainable involvement of women at all levels of chess. The seminar was led by International Arbiter (Category A) Sotiris Logothetis, who delivered a high-quality, hands-on programme focused on modern chess technology and event operations. Participants received practical training on the use of DGT e-Boards and e-Pieces, event setup through DGT LiveChess, live game broadcasting, troubleshooting, and integration with major online platforms such as Chess.com and Lichess. Upon successful completion, participants received official DGT Board Operator certification, an internationally recognized qualification that supports professional involvement in modern chess tournaments and digital broadcasting. The Commission is also pleased to underline that DGT is a key partner and sponsor of the Pia Cramling Cup, further demonstrating shared values in supporting girls and women in chess through concrete actions. Appreciation and thanks The FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess extends its sincere thanks to the Stockholm Chess Federation and the Rilton Cup organisers for their close cooperation, as well as to the event sponsors DGT (Digital Game Technology) and Majana, whose support helped make these events possible possible. We also warmly thank International Arbiter Sotiris Logothetis for his high-level instruction and practical approach throughout the programme. Above all, we express our heartfelt gratitude to Pia Cramling herself. Her warmth, integrity, and enduring passion for chess continue to inspire players and organisers alike. The Pia Cramling Cup stands as a reflection of her values – excellence, kindness, and belief in the next generation. The Commission is honoured to be part of this initiative. The FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess looks forward to building on this successful first edition of the Cramling Cup and continuing its close cooperation with DGT through future educational initiatives that expand professional opportunities, strengthen technical expertise and support balanced representation in chess worldwide.
Sixteen players earn the right to compete in 2026 Total Chess pilot event
FIDE and Norway Chess are pleased to announce the first 16 players who have earned the right to receive an invitation to the 2026 Total Chess World Championship Tour pilot tournament (“Total Chess 2026 Pilot”), the new combined competition across Fast Classic, Rapid, and Blitz. The 2026 event is officially a pilot, testing the full concept, format, and regulations of the Total Chess World Championship Tour. The inaugural full Tour season, with the official crowning of the first Total Chess World Champion, will start in 2027. The pilot tournament is scheduled to take place from October 3–15, 2026. The host destinations/locations will be announced at a later date. Formal invitations to the qualified players will be sent out in the coming days and within the next week. Based on the qualification criteria approved by FIDE, the group already includes the top 13 players in the January classical rating list, the Women’s World Champion, plus additional elite qualifiers from the World Rapid and World Blitz Championships – a more than respectable lineup for the 2026 pilot. Players who have earned the right to receive an invitation 1–2. World Champions GM Gukesh Dommaraju – World Champion GM Ju Wenjun – Women’s World Champion 3–5. World Rapid Championship 2025 (three places) The three medalists of the 2025 World Rapid Championship have earned the right to be invited: GM Magnus Carlsen GM Vladislav Artemiev GM Arjun Erigaisi 6–7. World Blitz Championship 2025 (two places) The two qualifiers from the 2025 World Blitz Championship are: GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (qualified via the lowest average sum of placements) 8–16. Top-9 Rated Players (January 2026 list, with replacements) Based on the classical rating list as of 1 January 2026, and applying the agreed replacement rules (to account for players already qualified via World Championships and World Rapid/Blitz), the following players have earned the right to receive an invitation via rating: GM Hikaru Nakamura GM Fabiano Caruana GM Vincent Keymer GM Anish Giri GM Alireza Firouzja GM Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa GM Wei Yi Two further places are filled according to the replacement criteria: GM Wesley So – first replacement (lowest average sum of placements) GM Viswanathan Anand – first replacement according to rating A star-studded field and the road ahead In summary, the right to receive an invitation to the 2026 Total Chess pilot tournament has currently been granted to 16 chess players, comprising: The top 13 players in the January classical rating list GM Vladislav Artemiev GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, and The Women’s World Champion, GM Ju Wenjun The next two players who will earn the right to receive invitations will become known in April 2026, following the conclusion of the FIDE Candidates Tournament and the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament, whose winners will also qualify for the Tour. They will be joined by the top three players in the standard rating list (June 1, 2026), excluding those already qualified, and three FIDE Open Circuit qualifiers (special ranking, including only open events). The 2026 pilot 24-player tournament will be held from October 3-15, 2026, with destinations/locations to be announced later. The inaugural full Total Chess World Championship Tour season will then launch in 2027. Regulations of the Total Chess World Championship Tour FIDE and Norway Chess are also announcing that the official Regulations of the Total Chess World Championship Tour have now been published. They define in detail: The full qualification system Event structure and scoring system across Fast Classic, Rapid, and Blitz Tie-break and replacement rules Prize fund distribution and tour standings The regulations can be found here: fide.com/wp-content/uploads/Total-Chess-WCT-Regulations.pdf