Bengaluru: Following FIDE’s recent announcement regarding modifications to the World Cup format, which will now be more concise and accelerated, the organization has decided to eliminate the rating spot and the qualification route for third place in the 2028 Candidates Tournament qualification process.
Event Context
The Candidates tournament, featuring eight players, selects the challenger for the reigning champion at the World Championship.
In an update to the qualification process, a new pathway has been established via the Total Chess World Championship Tour. The top two players from the Tour’s final standings will gain direct entry into the eight-player Candidates tournament.
Founded by Norway Chess, which prominently includes world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, the Tour integrates fast classical, rapid, and blitz formats. Consequently, four of the eight spots in the Candidates tournament will be filled through these quicker time controls.
FIDE has announced significant changes to the tournament format, promising an increase in player participation and larger prize pools at the World Cup. This latest series of reforms has sparked mixed reactions among chess players and coaches. Some, like American Grandmaster Hans Niemann, have welcomed the changes, while others are concerned that FIDE is prioritizing faster formats at the expense of traditional classical chess, which is regarded as a cornerstone of the game.
At this year’s Candidates tournament, dominated by Javokhir Sindarov, Andrey Esipenko secured the third-place finish at the World Cup, while Hikaru Nakamura earned the rating spot.
These modifications come just prior to the FIDE elections in September, coinciding with the Chess Olympiad. Incumbent FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich is campaigning for a third term.
In response to the revamped World Cup format, Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri expressed on X that the Swiss format promises participants more guaranteed classical games, rather than the risk of traveling great distances only to be eliminated within days. He noted, ‘I’m not asserting that the new format is superior; it could indeed be worse. While we may disagree with FIDE’s choices, they appear calculated to balance fairness in competition, logistical considerations, commercial interests, and the global expansion of chess.’
For the upcoming 2028 Women’s Candidates tournament, the FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss, Grand Prix Series, Women’s World Cup, and FIDE Circuit will each grant two spots in the eight-player lineup.
