Pilot EventUpcoming
Total Chess Pilot 2026
Budapest10–20 November 2026Starts on 10 November 2026Knockout
Six brackets of four. Every match is two days of 4 Blitz, 2 Rapid and 1 Fast Classic; the day scores reset, and a level match goes to Armageddon. Knockout 1 decides the winner.
The knockout starts on 17 November.
The group stage decides every player’s bracket: the four group winners play Knockout 1, the runners-up Knockout 2, and so on to Knockout 6. Within a bracket the semifinals pair the best blitz rank against the lowest, 2nd against 3rd.
Places 1–4 · 17–20 Nov
Knockout 1 · Road to the winner
The four group winners. Only the winner of this final wins the event.
Semifinals · 17–18 Nov
Semifinal 1
| Group winner, best blitz rank |
|---|
| Group winner, lowest blitz rank |
Semifinal 2
| Group winner, 2nd-best blitz rank |
|---|
| Group winner, 3rd-best blitz rank |
Final · 19–20 Nov
Final
| Winner Semifinal 1 |
|---|
| Winner Semifinal 2 |
Winner — Budapest 2026
To be decided · 20 Nov
3rd place match
| Loser Semifinal 1 |
|---|
| Loser Semifinal 2 |
Places 5–8
Knockout 2
The players ranked 2nd in their groups.
Semifinals · 17–18 Nov
Semifinal 1
| 2nd in group, best blitz rank |
|---|
| 2nd in group, lowest blitz rank |
Semifinal 2
| 2nd in group, 2nd-best blitz rank |
|---|
| 2nd in group, 3rd-best blitz rank |
Final · 19–20 Nov
Final
| Winner Semifinal 1 |
|---|
| Winner Semifinal 2 |
Place 5
To be decided · 20 Nov
3rd place match
| Loser Semifinal 1 |
|---|
| Loser Semifinal 2 |
Places 9–12
Knockout 3
The players ranked 3rd in their groups.
Semifinals · 17–18 Nov
Semifinal 1
| 3rd in group, best blitz rank |
|---|
| 3rd in group, lowest blitz rank |
Semifinal 2
| 3rd in group, 2nd-best blitz rank |
|---|
| 3rd in group, 3rd-best blitz rank |
Final · 19–20 Nov
Final
| Winner Semifinal 1 |
|---|
| Winner Semifinal 2 |
Place 9
To be decided · 20 Nov
3rd place match
| Loser Semifinal 1 |
|---|
| Loser Semifinal 2 |
Places 13–16
Knockout 4
The players ranked 4th in their groups.
Semifinals · 17–18 Nov
Semifinal 1
| 4th in group, best blitz rank |
|---|
| 4th in group, lowest blitz rank |
Semifinal 2
| 4th in group, 2nd-best blitz rank |
|---|
| 4th in group, 3rd-best blitz rank |
Final · 19–20 Nov
Final
| Winner Semifinal 1 |
|---|
| Winner Semifinal 2 |
Place 13
To be decided · 20 Nov
3rd place match
| Loser Semifinal 1 |
|---|
| Loser Semifinal 2 |
Places 17–20
Knockout 5
The players ranked 5th in their groups.
Semifinals · 17–18 Nov
Semifinal 1
| 5th in group, best blitz rank |
|---|
| 5th in group, lowest blitz rank |
Semifinal 2
| 5th in group, 2nd-best blitz rank |
|---|
| 5th in group, 3rd-best blitz rank |
Final · 19–20 Nov
Final
| Winner Semifinal 1 |
|---|
| Winner Semifinal 2 |
Place 17
To be decided · 20 Nov
3rd place match
| Loser Semifinal 1 |
|---|
| Loser Semifinal 2 |
Places 21–24
Knockout 6
The players ranked 6th in their groups.
Semifinals · 17–18 Nov
Semifinal 1
| 6th in group, best blitz rank |
|---|
| 6th in group, lowest blitz rank |
Semifinal 2
| 6th in group, 2nd-best blitz rank |
|---|
| 6th in group, 3rd-best blitz rank |
Final · 19–20 Nov
Final
| Winner Semifinal 1 |
|---|
| Winner Semifinal 2 |
Place 21
To be decided · 20 Nov
3rd place match
| Loser Semifinal 1 |
|---|
| Loser Semifinal 2 |
