Qualification
The pilot tournament of the Total Chess World Championship Tour will take place in start-mid October 2026. This event will introduce the new world championship concept that will crown an overall champion across Fast Classic, Rapid, and Blitz.
To ensure a competitive and representative field, FIDE and Total Chess have established a set of qualification pathways. These criteria balance results from existing FIDE championships, global rating performance, and places earned through the FIDE Circuit.
Below is a full overview of the qualification paths for the 2026 pilot event. The 24 available spots will be allocated as follows:
| Qualification Slots | Qualification Pathway |
|---|---|
| 1–2 | Reigning World Champions (Gukesh Dommaraju and Ju Wenjun) |
| 3–5 | Three medalists of the 2025 World Rapid Championship |
| 6–7 | Finalists of the 2025 World Blitz Championship |
| 8–16 | Top nine players in the classical rating list (January 1, 2026) |
| 17–18 | Winners of the 2026 Candidates & Women’s Candidates |
| 19–21 | Top three players in the classical rating list (June 1, 2026), excluding those already qualified |
| 22–24 | FIDE Circuit / FIDE Open Circuit qualifiers (special ranking, including only open events) |
The full Regulations, including player replacement rules, will be published by December 22, 2025.