No attractions based on ratings! FIDE launches new qualification system for 2028 Chess Candidates Championship Chess News
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has approved a new qualification system for the 2028 FIDE Candidates Championship and the 2028 FIDE Women’s Candidates Championship. These events will determine who will challenge for the world title. The updated rules aim to make qualifying fairer by rewarding players who perform well in major tournaments rather than relying solely on world rankings. The changes were proposed by FIDE’s Global Strategy Committee and are intended to give players more ways to earn a place in the Candidates.One of the biggest updates is the addition of the 2026-2027 Chess World Championship Tour as a direct qualifying route. The top two players in the Tour standings will qualify for the 2028 Candidates Championship.FIDE has also reduced the number of candidate spots during the World Cup. From 2027, only two finalists from the Open and Women’s World Cup will qualify, instead of three as in previous cycles. Clear rules for substitutions have also been introduced if eligible players are unable to take part.Another significant change is the elimination of rating-based qualifications. Instead, every spot will now be earned through performance at events such as the Grand Suisse, World Cup, Chess World Championship Tour, Women’s Grand Prix and FIDE Tour. In addition, the FIDE Tour will now award two qualifying spots based on combined results for the 2026-2027 season, rather than one spot per year.
Qualification pathways and FIDE’s perspective
There will be eight players competing in both the Open and Women’s Candidates tournaments. Each event will have two Grand Swiss qualifiers, two World Cup qualifiers, two Tour or Women’s Grand Prix events and two FIDE Tour events.FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich said: “The qualification system for the Candidate Championships is one of the cornerstones of the World Championship cycle and it must continue to evolve as the competition itself evolves.” “These changes have been carefully crafted to make the qualifications process more balanced, transparent and performance-based. “By introducing the Chess World Champions Tour as a new pathway, improving the allocation of World Cup places and placing greater emphasis on results achieved during the cycle, we ensure that every route to candidates rewards sustained excellence at the highest levels of competition.”
Post Comment