FIDE World Senior Chess Championships 2026: Registration now open
All FIDE member federations are invited to participate in the World Senior Individual Chess Championships. The competitions will be held in Vrnjačka Banja, the largest spa resort in Serbia, from November 2 (arrival) to November 15 (departure), 2026. The Championships will feature four sections: 50+ and 65+, Open and Women. All players must have turned 50 or 65 by the year 2026. The top three players from each category of the previous FIDE World Senior Championships have a personal right to participate. Additionally, the top three players from each category of the previous year’s Continental Senior Individual Championships are directly qualified, and their spots are non-transferable. The Championships will be played as 11-round Swiss-system tournaments with classical time control (90 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move). For the second year, FIDE has boosted the total prize fund to €50,000. The category winners will receive €5,000 (Open 50+), €2,500 (Women 50+), €4,000 (Open 65+), and €2,000 (Women 65+). Special prizes will also be awarded to players aged 75 and over. Invitation letter requests (for non-European citizens requiring a Serbian visa) must be submitted by September 1, 2026. The Serbian Chess Federation will not be able to provide visa assistance for requests submitted after this date. Registration for all participants and accompanying persons closes on Friday, September 25, 2026. A variety of side events, including FIDE-rated rapid and blitz tournaments, will be organized during the competition. Invitation, regulations and schedule (PDF) FIDE Senior Chess Championships official website (coming soon): worldsenior2026.fide.com Email: worldsenior@fide.com
FIDE Council approves qualification paths for 2028 Candidates Tournaments
The FIDE Council has approved qualification paths for the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2028 and the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2028, following proposals developed by the Global Strategy Commission. The regulations introduce new qualification opportunities while maintaining a balanced pathway through FIDE’s premier competitions. The Candidates Tournaments determine the challengers for the FIDE World Championship and the FIDE Women’s World Championship, making the qualification system one of the most important elements of the World Championship cycle. The regulations aim to strengthen the connection between FIDE’s flagship events, reward consistent excellence across multiple competitions, and provide players with a broader range of opportunities to qualify. Main changes The approved regulations introduce four key changes to the qualification system. Total Chess World Championship Tour becomes a qualification pathway A new qualification route has been introduced through the Total Chess World Championship Tour 2026–2027. The top two players in the final standings of the Tour will qualify directly for the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2028. This addition further strengthens the World Championship cycle by rewarding consistent performances across the Tour and creating another pathway to the Candidates. World Cup qualification adjusted The number of qualification places awarded through the FIDE World Cup and the FIDE Women’s World Cup has been revised. Beginning with the 2027 editions, the two finalists of each World Cup will qualify for the respective Candidates Tournament, compared to three qualification places in the previous cycle. Replacement procedures have also been clarified to ensure that any vacated qualification place is reallocated through clearly defined sporting criteria. Rating qualification removed The rating qualification spot, which existed in previous Candidates cycles, has been removed. Instead of qualifying through rating alone, players will now compete for places through FIDE’s major competitions and season-long qualification events. This change places greater emphasis on sporting results achieved during the World Championship cycle and creates a qualification system based entirely on competitive performance across the Grand Swiss, World Cup, Total Chess World Championship Tour (Open), Women’s Grand Prix (Women), and the FIDE Circuit. Circuit qualification extended to two years The FIDE Circuit will continue to award two qualification places for both the Open and Women’s Candidates Tournaments. However, instead of allocating one place per year, the qualification will now be based on the combined results across the 2026–2027 FIDE Circuit. The two highest-ranked players over the full two-year cycle who have not otherwise qualified will earn places in the Candidates. This change places greater emphasis on sustained excellence over a longer period and encourages players to participate more actively in FIDE Circuit events. Qualification paths FIDE Candidates Tournament 2028 Eight players will qualify through the following pathways: FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament 2027 – 2 players Total Chess World Championship Tour 2026–2027 – 2 players FIDE World Cup 2027 – 2 players FIDE Circuit 2026-2027 – 2 players FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2028 Eight players will qualify through the following: FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss 2027 – 2 players FIDE Women’s Grand Prix Series 2026–2027 – 2 players FIDE Women’s World Cup 2027 – 2 players FIDE Women’s Circuit 2026-2027 – 2 players A balanced route to the Candidates The revised qualification system maintains four equally weighted qualification pathways, ensuring that players can reach the Candidates through success in elite tournaments and long-term circuit performance. “The qualification system for the Candidates Tournaments is one of the cornerstones of the World Championship cycle, and it is essential that it continues to evolve alongside the game itself,” said FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich. “These changes have been carefully developed to make the qualification process more balanced, transparent, and performance-based. By introducing the Total Chess World Championship Tour as a new pathway, refining the allocation of World Cup places, and placing greater emphasis on results achieved during the cycle, we are ensuring that every route to the Candidates rewards sustained excellence at the highest level of competition.” Related documents: FIDE Candidates Tournament 2028: Qualification paths (PDF) FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2028: Qualification paths (PDF)
In Memoriam: Oleg Skvortsov (1969–2026)
It is with great sadness that we have learned of the passing of Oleg Skvortsov, a passionate chess enthusiast, long-time philanthropist, and tournament organizer. He was 57. Born in Moscow in 1969, Skvortsov played chess during his school years, reaching the rank of Candidate Master. Upon graduating from Moscow State University with a degree in history and later earning a PhD in the same field, he entered the business world, becoming one of the founders and director of IGC International Gemological Laboratories. His most significant contribution to the chess world was the Zurich Chess Challenge, a series of elite tournaments he founded and financed from 2012 to 2017. The event began with a six-game match between Levon Aronian and Vladimir Kramnik in 2012, expanded to four players in 2013, and in 2014 became a six-player super-tournament with an average rating of 2801—at the time, the strongest in chess history. Beyond elite events, Skvortsov was deeply committed to developing young talent. He supported matches such as Shirov–Dubov and, from 2014 onward, the annual “Nutcracker” generation matches, in which top juniors faced legendary grandmasters. Skvortsov left a lasting mark on chess with his innovative time control: 45 minutes with a 10-second increment. This format, informally known as the “Skvortsov time control,” gained popularity among players for balancing rapid and classical chess. Throughout his life, Skvortsov was deeply involved in how modern chess is marketed and funded, always aiming to capture the chess world’s attention and attract new sponsors to ensure the game’s continued growth. He was known for his personal generosity, often establishing special surprise prizes for players and fostering a welcoming, celebratory atmosphere at his events. His legacy lives on in the tournaments he built, the players he brought together, and the time control that bears his name. FIDE, alongside the global chess community, extends its deepest condolences to Oleg Skvortsov’s family, friends, and loved ones. Photo: Vladimir Barsky