FIDE Approves New Qualification System for the 2028 Candidates Tournaments
The FIDE Council has officially approved the qualification system for the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2028 and the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2028. The new regulations were prepared by the Global Strategy Commission. They introduce fresh qualification opportunities while keeping the road to the Candidates fair and competitive.
The Candidates Tournaments decide who will challenge for the FIDE World Championship and the FIDE Women’s World Championship. Because of this, the qualification system is one of the most important parts of the World Championship cycle.
The updated rules reward players who perform consistently across FIDE’s biggest events. They also offer more ways for top players to earn a place in the Candidates.
Major Changes to the Qualification System
FIDE has introduced four important updates.
Total Chess World Championship Tour Added
The Total Chess World Championship Tour 2026–2027 is now an official qualification route. The top two players in the final Tour standings will qualify directly for the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2028.
This change rewards players who perform consistently throughout the Tour and adds another exciting path to the Candidates.
World Cup Qualification Updated
FIDE has reduced the number of qualification spots from the World Cup and Women’s World Cup. Starting in 2027, only the two finalists of each event will qualify for the respective Candidates Tournament. In the previous cycle, three players qualified.
FIDE has also clarified the replacement rules. If a qualified player cannot take part, the vacant place will be filled using clearly defined sporting criteria.
Rating Spot Removed
The direct qualification place based on FIDE rating has been removed. Instead, players must now qualify through major FIDE competitions and season-long events. These include:
- FIDE Grand Swiss
- FIDE World Cup
- Total Chess World Championship Tour (Open)
- FIDE Women’s Grand Prix
- FIDE Circuit
This update places greater importance on tournament results instead of rating alone.
FIDE Circuit Now Covers Two Years
The FIDE Circuit will continue to award two qualification spots for both the Open and Women’s Candidates. However, qualification will now be based on the combined results from the 2026–2027 FIDE Circuit.
The two highest-ranked players across the full two-year cycle, who have not already qualified, will earn their Candidates spots. This change encourages long-term consistency and greater participation in FIDE Circuit events.
Qualification Paths for the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2028
Eight players will qualify through these four routes:
- 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
Qualification Paths for the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2028
Eight players will qualify through these pathways:
- FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss 2027 – 2 players
- FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2026–2027 – 2 players
- FIDE Women’s World Cup 2027 – 2 players
- FIDE Women’s Circuit 2026–2027 – 2 players
A Balanced Path to the Candidates
The revised system keeps four equally weighted qualification routes for both the Open and Women’s Candidates. Players can now qualify by excelling in elite tournaments or by delivering strong performances across the two-year FIDE Circuit.
FIDE believes this system creates a fairer and more transparent qualification process while rewarding consistent excellence.
Speaking about the changes, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich said the qualification system is one of the foundations of the World Championship cycle. He explained that the new rules make the process more balanced, transparent, and performance-based.
He added that introducing the Total Chess World Championship Tour, refining the World Cup qualification, and focusing on results achieved during the cycle will ensure every route to the Candidates rewards sustained excellence at the highest level.
FIDE has also released the official qualification documents for both the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2028 and the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2028.
Photos: FIDE_chess
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS
