Viswanathan Anand

Five-time World Chess Champion and Deputy President of FIDE

“Chess at its best is about the entire range, the ability to think deeply, and then switch gears at an instant. A combined world title finally recognizes that full spectrum. Fast classic rewards quality, rapid tests intuition, and blitz exposes your nerves, but over a season, consistency separates a great day from a great champion.

As a player I love the concept. And as FIDE Deputy President, I welcome a format that combines disciplines, is modern, and is compelling for audiences.”

Magnus Carlsen

Five-time World Chess Champion

“This seems like a well-thought-out step to further develop chess. Bringing multiple formats together under a single title will provide a more complete view of the players’ strengths, while the time controls suits today’s players and audience. I’m looking forward to the pilot in 2026 and to seeing how the first season in 2027 unfolds. It’s impressive that Norway Chess has achieved this.”

Wei Yi

Chinese Grandmaster, World No. 10 as of October 2025

“It’s a great pleasure to share this exciting moment with you all as we witness the launch of a groundbreaking chess tour with innovative rules. As a professional player, I am particularly looking forward to this tour’s unique format and the incorporation of varied time controls. This structure will truly test a play’s comprehensive abilities as it demands consistent top performance across different formats to compete for the ultimate title. I believe this tour presents both a fresh opportunity and a distinctive challenge for every participant.

Let’s all stay tuned and follow this remarkable event together!”

Ding Liren

World Chess Champion, Chinese Grandmaster

The Total Chess World Championship Tour is a brand-new competition similar to the triathlon in athletics. It encompasses three formats — Fast Classic, Rapid, and Blitz providing a comprehensive test of a player’s overall abilities. 

I hope to participate in this event and compete for the new championship title!