FIDE Overhauls World Cup Format and Candidates Tournament Qualification Path for 2028

FIDE Revamps Chess World Cup Format, Sparks Debate Among Players

Bengaluru – In a bold move that has sent ripples through the chess community, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) announced significant changes to the World Cup format, making it shorter and faster. This decision comes just a day after the organization revealed the removal of the rating spot and the third-place qualification route from the 2028 Candidates Tournament qualification path.

The Candidates Tournament, a prestigious eight-player event that determines the challenger for the World Chess Championship, will now see a new qualification route introduced via the Total Chess World Championship Tour. This innovative Tour, spearheaded by Norway Chess and featuring world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, will allow the top two players in its final standings to secure direct entry into the Candidates Tournament. Notably, four out of the eight spots will now be filled through faster time controls, including rapid and blitz formats.

FIDE’s latest overhaul aims to increase player participation and elevate prize funds in the World Cup. However, the changes have sparked a divide among players and coaches. While some, like American grandmaster Hans Niemann, have praised the new direction, others express concern that FIDE is sidelining classical chess—traditionally viewed as the cornerstone of the game—in favor of quicker formats.

At this year’s Candidates Tournament, which was dominated by Javokhir Sindarov, the third-place spot was claimed by Andrey Esipenko, while Hikaru Nakamura secured the rating spot. The recent changes come at a pivotal time, just ahead of the September FIDE elections during the Chess Olympiad, where incumbent president Arkady Dvorkovich is vying for a third term.

Dutch grandmaster Anish Giri weighed in on the changes via social media platform X, stating, “A Swiss format in the World Cup gives every participant many guaranteed classical games instead of the possibility of traveling halfway across the world only to be eliminated after two days. That alone may make the event feel more worthwhile for many players. I’m not saying the new format is better. It may well turn out to be worse. Even if we disagree with FIDE’s decisions, they don’t appear to be random. They seem to be an attempt to balance sporting fairness, logistics, commercial appeal, and the global growth of the game.”

For the upcoming 2028 Women’s Candidates Tournament, FIDE has also introduced a new qualification structure. The FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss, the Grand Prix Series, the FIDE Women’s World Cup, and the FIDE Circuit will each award two spots toward the eight-player tournament.

As the chess world grapples with these sweeping changes, the implications for the future of the game remain to be seen. Will the shift towards faster formats enhance the sport’s appeal, or will it undermine the rich tradition of classical chess? Only time will tell.