World Rapid and Blitz Champions to Join the Total Chess World Championship Tour
A major update is coming to the world of chess. FIDE and Norway Chess have confirmed the qualification paths for the Total Chess Tour 2026, the pilot event of a brand-new world championship system. This Tour is part of the Total Chess World Championship, a format that will crown the strongest all-round chess player across Fast Classic, Rapid, and Blitz.
The Total Chess Tour is expected to become one of the most prestigious events in elite chess. It aims to find “The Total Chess Player” — someone who can perform at the highest level in all time formats. The full championship season, which will award the title of FIDE World Combined Champion, will officially begin in 2027.
Qualification for the Total Chess Tour 2026
Players can qualify for the 2026 pilot event through multiple pathways. These routes reward performance in Rapid, Blitz, classical ratings, and major FIDE events. Here is the final list:
1–2. Reigning World Champions — Gukesh Dommaraju and Ju Wenjun
3–5. Three medalists of the 2025 World Rapid Championship
6–7. Two finalists of the 2025 World Blitz Championship
8–16. Top nine players in the classical rating list as of January 1, 2026
17–18. Winners of the 2026 Candidates and 2026 Women’s Candidates
19–21. Top three players in the classical rating list as of June 1, 2026 (excluding already-qualified players)
22–24. Qualifiers from the FIDE Circuit / FIDE Open Circuit
FIDE will release the complete regulations and replacement rules on December 22, 2025.
What Is the Total Chess World Championship Tour?
This new Tour introduces a combined world title that includes Fast Classic, Rapid, and Blitz formats.
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Fast Classic, a new version of classical chess, uses a faster time control: 45 minutes + 30 seconds increment.
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These games will still count toward classical rating.
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The Tour will offer a minimum annual prize fund of $2.7 million.
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Each of the first three events will have at least $750,000, and the Finals (featuring four players) will have $450,000, plus extra performance bonuses.
The Total Chess Tour marks an exciting new era in competitive chess, bringing together top players from all formats in one unified championship system.
Photos: FIDE_Chess
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS
