Regulations
The official rules and regulations governing the Total Chess World Championship Tour.
Official Regulations
The Total Chess World Championship Tour is the annual series of chess tournaments among top players combining the most popular time controls — Fast Classic, Rapid, and Blitz. It is foreseen that each year four tournaments will be played and the players with the best combined score are qualified for the Grand Final to determine the world champion in combined chess. The winner will be crowned with the official title: FIDE World Combined Champion.
The Regulations are approved jointly by FIDE and Norway Chess AS and may be amended or clarified. All disputed or unclear matters are resolved jointly by FIDE and Norway Chess.
Please note that the regulations on this page is for the full Total Chess World Championship Tour.
Tournament Format for Each Leg (Location)
Each leg of the tournament has two stages: the group stage and the knockout stage based on the group rankings. The starting number of players is 24 for leg 1, 2 and 3.
Draw of Groups
The draw of groups at each location takes place on the day of the opening ceremony before the first playing day. The following principles shall be used for the draw:
24 players allocated to 4 groups of 6 players each
Seeding method: draw of lots
The top four players by standard rating shall be placed in different groups.
Group Stage
The group stage is played as a double round-robin format.
Each of the 6 players in a group plays 2 games per day against each other, so the group stage lasts 5 days. In total, each player plays 10 games.
Each game is played in the Fast Classic format with the following time control:
45 minutes with 30 seconds increment per move.
A win is awarded 3 points, a draw 1 point and a loss 0 point. Tiebreaks will determine the full rankings in each group.
A 9-round Blitz tournament (3+2), with 24 players competing in a Swiss format, shall be played after the opening ceremony. The rankings in the Blitz tournament are used as the tiebreaker in the group stage.
Knockout Stage: Semifinal and Final in each Leg
In each group, players are ranked from 1 (the winner) to 6 (last place). The winners of each group advance to Knockout bracket 1, the 2nd places of each group go to Knockout bracket 2, and so on. Semifinal pairings in each Knockout bracket are determined by their pre-tournament blitz rank among those four, and paired 1–4 and 2–3.
Each knockout bracket is organized as a single elimination knockout system in which semifinals and then finals are played. The players who lose their semifinal matches play a match for the 3rd place so that the full rankings, 1-4, are determined per knockout bracket.
Only the winner of the final match in Knockout 1 is crowned the leg (location) winner.
Every player receives points based on how they perform in the brackets. The points are allocated as follows.
Points System
Rank | Knockout 1 | Knockout 2 | Knockout 3 | Knockout 4 | Knockout 5 | Knockout 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 30 | 20 | 16 | 12 | 9 | 6 |
2 | 24 | 18 | 14 | 11 | 8 | 5 |
3 | 22 | 17 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 4 |
4 | 20 | 16 | 12 | 9 | 6 | 3 |
Thus, the Knockout 1 winner receives 30 points and the Knockout 2 winner receives 20 points and so on. Points decrease by placement within each group as described in Table 1.
A player receives an extra 5 bonus points for winning each extra leg they win after their first. In other words, Leg 1 winner receives 5 points for winning Leg 2 or Leg 3. Similarly, Leg 2 winner gets +5 points for winning Leg 3. Thus, the maximum possible total across the tour is 100 points.
Knockouts Daily Winner Structure
In the semi-final, 3rd-place match, and final, the matches will be played over two days, using the “two-day system” described next. Each day includes Fast Classic, Rapid, and Blitz games before a winner is determined. First, four Blitz games will be played, then two Rapid games, and then the Fast Classic game.
The higher-ranked player based on the pre-tournament blitz ranking chooses the color for the first Blitz game on Day 1. Colors for all remaining games on Day 1 and Day 2 then alternate.
Points System
Each Blitz game: 1 point for a win and 0.5 points for a draw
Each Rapid game: 4 points for a win and 2 points for a draw
Each Fast Classic game: 8 points for a win and 4 points for a draw
Time control:
Blitz: 3 min + 2 sec per move, starting from move 1
Rapid: 15 min + 10 sec per move, starting from move 1
Fast Classic: 45 min + 30 sec per move, starting from move 1
Each day produces a day-winner, or a tie occurs.
Scores reset each day, and in case of a tie in one of the days, the other day acts as a tiebreaker. A tie occurs at the end of day 2 if a player wins day 1 and the other player wins day 2, or each day is tied. In this case, an Armageddon game, where Black has the draw odds, is played to determine the winner. The event is always determined on the final day.
Armageddon Time Control: 10 minutes for white, 7 minutes for black with 1 second increment, starting from move 41.
The player who has the most total points over two days chooses the color. If they have equal points, then an Armageddon bidding takes place.
Note 1: If a game lasts longer, there will be at least 3 minutes break before the next game in blitz, and at least 10 minutes break in rapid and classic.
Note 2: On Day 2. 9-round Blitz tournament. Ties will be broken in the following lexicographic order: Buchholz, performance rating, and drawing of lots.
Draw by Mutual Agreement. Players are not allowed to agree to a draw until at least 30 moves have been made by each player in a classic game. This rule does not apply in a rapid, blitz, or Armageddon game.
Default Time
The default time is 15 minutes in a classic game. There is no default time in rapid, blitz, and Armageddon games. No penalty shall be imposed on a player if he/she is late for any of his/her rapid, blitz, or Armageddon games.
Fair Play
The Player accepts that the arbiters and fair play officers may carry out any inspection or security checks at any time just before the start of the game, during the game or immediately after the game to ensure that no electronic or other equipment has been brought into the playing area by the Player.
Prize Money
The Event has a total prize fund distributed across to the participants of the Event as follows (USD):
1st Place | USD 80,000 |
2nd place | USD 50,000 |
3rd place | USD 45,000 |
4th place | USD 40,000 |
5th place | USD 38,000 |
6th place | USD 36,000 |
7th place | USD 34,000 |
8th place | USD 32,000 |
9th place | USD 30,000 |
10th place | USD 28,000 |
11th place | USD 26,000 |
12th place | USD 24,000 |
13th place | USD 22,000 |
14th place | USD 20,000 |
15th place | USD 19,000 |
16th place | USD 18,000 |
17th place | USD 17,000 |
18th place | USD 16,000 |
19th place | USD 15,000 |
20th place | USD 14,000 |
21st place | USD 13,000 |
22nd place | USD 12,000 |
23rd place | USD 11,000 |
24th place | USD 10,000 |
All prize money shall be divided equally among players with equal score.
The Grand Final: Semifinal and Final
The four players with the highest total points after three legs qualify for the Grand Final. Semifinal pairings are determined by total points (with ties broken by a draw of lots): 1 vs. 4 and 2 vs. 3. Semi-finals use the two-day system as in the Knockout stage of each leg.
Full tiebreak rules for qualifying to the Grand Final in case of ties in total points:
Ties are broken in favor of the player with more 1st places in a leg, then more 2nd places, and so on.
Total number of game points (without tiebreaks)
Total number of game points with Black pieces
Online match
The final is played over four days and consists of Race 1 and Race 2. Each race uses the two-day system.
The player who wins two races is declared the winner.
If each player wins one race, two blitz games will be played. If it is still a tie, an Armageddon game decides the winner.
The player who has the most total points over four days chooses the color. If they have equal points, then an Armageddon bidding takes place.
The winner of the final wins the Tour and is crowned the FIDE World Combined Champion.
The final rules for the Grand Final are subject to revision based on the experience gained from the pilot tournament in 2026.
Replacement & Withdrawals
World Champions (Slots 1–2)
In the event that any of the world champions declines to participate or withdraw after signing the relevant contract, he/she will be replaced in the following order of priority:
the silver medalist of the Candidates/Women's Candidates 2026,
the bronze medalist of the Candidates/Women's Candidates 2026,
the highest-ranked player not yet qualified according to the FIDE Circuit as of September 1, 2026.
World Rapid Championship 2025 (Slots 3–5)
If the reigning World Champion finishes in the top 3 of the 2025 World Rapid Championship, the relevant qualification spot will be passed to the player who finished fourth in that championship.
In the event that any of the qualified players subsequently declines to participate or withdraw after signing the relevant contract, he/she will be replaced by the highest-ranked player not yet qualified according to the FIDE Circuit as of September 1, 2026.
World Blitz Championship 2025 (Slots 6–7)
If any of the finalists of the 2025 World Blitz Championship have already qualified for the tournament, the vacant spot(s) will be awarded to the non-qualified player(s) with the lowest average sum of placements from the combined results of the 2025 World Rapid Championship and the 2025 World Blitz Championship.
In the event that any of the qualified players subsequently declines to participate or withdraw after signing the relevant contract, he/she will be replaced by the highest-ranked player not yet qualified according to the FIDE Circuit as of September 1, 2026.
Top-9 Rated Players (Slots 8–16)
If any player ranked in the top 9 of the rating list at the time of qualification has already secured a place in the tournament, the first replacement will be the non-qualified player with the lowest average sum of placements from the combined results of the 2025 World Rapid Championship and the 2025 World Blitz Championship. Any subsequent replacements (if needed) will be made according to the standard FIDE rating list of 1 January 2026.
In the event that any of the qualified players later will withdraw after signing the relevant contract, he/she will be replaced by the highest-ranked player not yet qualified according to the FIDE Circuit as of September 1, 2026.
Replacement for the Winner of the 2026 Candidates Tournament/Women Candidates (Slots 17–18)
If the winner of the 2026 Candidates Tournament/Women Candidates has already qualified or withdraw after signing the relevant contract, he/she will be replaced in the following order of priority:
the silver medalist of the Candidates/Women's Candidates 2026,
the bronze medalist of the Candidates/Women's Candidates 2026,
the highest-ranked player not yet qualified according to the FIDE Circuit as of September 1, 2026.
FIDE Open Circuit spots (Slots 22–24)
In the event that any of the qualified players subsequently declines to participate or withdraw after signing the relevant contract, he/she will be replaced by the highest-ranked player not yet qualified according to the FIDE Open Circuit as of September 1, 2026.
Qualification Pathways — 2026 Pilot Event
Only one event, no Grand Final.
The following categories were accepted as eligible qualification paths for the 2026 pilot event. The 24 available spots will be allocated as follows:
Slots 1–2: Reigning World Champions
Reigning World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju and Women's World Champion Ju Wenjun.
Slots 3–5: World Rapid 2025 Medalists
Three medalists of the 2025 World Rapid Championship.
Slots 6–7: World Blitz 2025 Finalists
Finalists of the 2025 World Blitz Championship.
Slots 8–16: Top-9 Rated Players
Top nine players in the standard rating list (January 1, 2026)
Slots 17–18: 2026 Candidates Winners
Winners of the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament and Women's Candidates Tournament.
Slots 19–21: Rating (June 2026)
Top three players in the standard rating list (June 1, 2026), excluding those already qualified.
Slots 22–24: FIDE Open Circuit
FIDE Open Circuit qualifiers (special ranking, including only open events).
2027 Tour Qualification
First Leg
The following players are eligible to participate in the first leg of the 2027 Tour (in chronological order of qualification):
Reigning World Champion Gukesh D.
Reigning Women's World Champion Ju Wenjun
2025 World Rapid Champion (if already qualified, silver medalist invited)
2025 World Blitz Champion (if already qualified, silver medalist invited)
The top 3 winners of 2026 Candidates Tournament. If one or more of these players have already qualified, the spot(s) go to the player(s) placed next (but no further than 6th). If any spot(s) remain, they are transferred to the FIDE Circuit 2026.
2026 Women's Candidates Tournament winner
The 3 winners of 2026 Tour pilot event. If any of them have already qualified, the spot(s) go to the player(s) placed 4th (and no further). If any spot(s) remain, they are transferred to the FIDE Circuit 2026.
The top 2 players in the 2026 FIDE Open Circuit standings. If any of the winners have already qualified, the spots are passed down to the next highest-ranked players in the standings until two players are invited.
2026 World Rapid Champion. If the winner has already qualified, the spot goes to the 2nd place, and then to the 3rd place. If all have already qualified, the spot is transferred to the FIDE Circuit 2026.
2026 World Blitz Champion. If the winner has already qualified, the spot goes to the 2nd place, and then to the 3rd place. If all have already qualified, the spot is transferred to the FIDE Circuit 2026.
The top 3 rated players as of 1st October 2026, from among those not already qualified, but no lower than the top 10 of the rating list.
If any spots remain vacant after applying all the above criteria, they will be filled based on the FIDE Circuit 2026 standings.
12. The top 3 rated players as of 1st January 2027, from among those not already qualified, but no lower than the top 15 of the rating list.
If any spots remain vacant after applying all the above criteria, they will be filled based on the FIDE Circuit 2026 standings.
13. Three wildcards, jointly determined by the organizers and the FIDE President.
Second Leg
The following players are eligible to participate in the second leg of the 2027 Tour (in chronological order of qualification):
The seventeen (17) players based on the results of the first leg.
The five (5) players from the 2027 Grand Swiss who have not already qualified, provided they finished in 10th place or higher.
The winner of the 2027 Women's Grand Swiss.
The organizers' wildcard (which can only be awarded to a player ranked in the top 20 of the rating list.
If any spots remain vacant after applying all the above criteria, they will be filled based on rating, but no lower than the top 20 of the rating list.
If any spots remain vacant after applying all the above criteria, they will be filled based on the FIDE Circuit 2026 standings.
Third Leg
The following players are eligible to participate in the third leg of the 2027 Tour (in chronological order of qualification):
The seventeen (17) players based on the results of the second leg.
The finalists of the first leg (if these players did not qualify via the criteria mentioned above).
The finalists of the 2027 World Cup.
The winner of the 2027 Women's World Cup.
The organizers' wildcard (which can only be awarded to a player ranked in the top 20).
The highest-rated player (must be ranked no lower than top 10 in the rating list). All remaining vacant spots will be filled via the FIDE Circuit 2026.
Questions?
Find answers to common questions about rules, format, and qualification.
