FIDE has approved a new format for the FIDE Circuit, introducing a series of regulatory and structural updates that will apply to the 2026 and 2027 seasons. The revised regulations further define the Circuit as a unified system of top individual chess tournaments worldwide and strengthen its role as a performance-based qualification pathway, with increased emphasis on consistency, strength of opposition, and participation at the highest level.
The updated regulations were approved by the FIDE Council on 26 December 2025 and will come into force on 1 January 2026.
Summary of key changes:
- Introduction of a two-year Circuit cycle covering the 2026 and 2027 seasons
- Expansion of the number of results counted toward the final score
- Introduction of a separate FIDE Open Circuit sub-ranking
- Updated tournament strength calculation
- Expanded eligibility for rapid and blitz tournaments
- Inclusion of the Total Chess World Championship Tour
- Adjusted bonus scoring for the World Championship Match
For the first time, the FIDE Circuit will operate over a two-year cycle. Instead of an annual ranking, results from the 2026 and 2027 seasons will be combined into a single Circuit ranking. A player’s final score will be calculated as the sum of their twelve highest event scores achieved across the two-year period, or all event scores if fewer than twelve are available.
Alongside this expansion, new balance rules have been introduced to ensure that a player’s final score reflects a broad and competitive tournament portfolio. When a final score includes eleven or twelve event scores, no more than four rapid or blitz tournaments may be counted. In addition, no more than seven events, in the case of eleven results, or eight events, in the case of twelve results, may come from tournaments with fewer than 50 participants. When a final score is based on ten or fewer events, these limits are reduced accordingly. These measures reinforce classical chess as the core of the Circuit, while allowing rapid and blitz events to contribute in a limited and clearly defined way.
To be eligible to qualify for the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2028 via the Circuit, a player’s final score must include at least eight eligible tournaments, of which at least five must be standard time-control events. Depending on the total number of tournaments counted, a minimum number of these standard tournaments must also have participation of 50 players or more. Event scores of zero points may be included for the purpose of meeting participation requirements.
A new Open Circuit sub-ranking has been introduced as part of the overall structure. This ranking will include only tournaments with more than 50 participants and is intended to highlight performances in large open events. The top players in this sub-ranking will earn qualification opportunities for selected FIDE competitions, such as the Total Chess Tour, further strengthening the link between open tournaments and the elite pathway.
Another significant update concerns tournament strength calculations. The average rating used to determine a tournament’s strength will now be based on the top twelve players, rather than eight as in previous cycles. This adjustment provides a more accurate reflection of the competitive level of elite events and aligns scoring more closely with the actual strength of the field.
Eligibility for rapid and blitz tournaments has also been expanded. The minimum average rating threshold required for such events to be included in the Circuit has been lowered from 2700 to 2650. Eligible rapid and blitz events remain subject to reduced weighting through established multipliers.
The Total Chess World Championship Tour 2026-2027 has been formally included in the FIDE Circuit. Results from these events will count toward Circuit scores, with specific coefficients applied, and are treated as standard tournaments for the purposes of participation requirements.
Adjustments have also been made to bonus scoring related to the World Championship Match, where the runner-up of the World Championship match will get fewer points with a coefficient decrease to 1.5 compared to the Circuit 2025, ensuring a better balance between match results and tournament performance across the Circuit as a whole.
“It is extremely important for FIDE to provide equal competitive opportunities to grandmasters of all levels and increase the role of sporting merit in selection. The new FIDE Open Circuit allows all grandmasters to compete for direct spots in the most prestigious FIDE tournaments. Thus, the top 3 players in the 2026 FIDE Open Circuit standings as of September 1, 2026, qualify for the 2026 pilot Total Chess event. Furthermore, the top 2 players as of January 1, 2027, will also qualify for the 1st leg of the 2027 event,” said FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich.
The revised regulations further clarify eligibility criteria for tournaments, including minimum numbers of players and rounds, rating thresholds, federation representation requirements, the mandatory application of FIDE Fair Play procedures, and advance notification obligations for organisers. The FIDE Council retains authority over the regulations, with any unforeseen circumstances or formats not covered referred to the FIDE President for a final decision.
The official FIDE Circuit rankings will be published and updated on a weekly basis throughout the 2026-2027 cycle.
Regulations are available in the FIDE Handbook: handbook.fide.com/files/handbook/Regulations_for_FIDE_Circuit_2026.pdf
FIDE Circuit 2026-2027 page: fide.com/fide-circuit-2026-2027/