The world’s top player in each of the three current forms will be crowned the FIDE World Combined Champion in 2027, marking the start of a fourth World Championship title in chess. On Wednesday, the Norwegian Chess organizers revealed the Total Chess World Championship Tour, which has been approved by FIDE, the world chess regulatory body.
The Norwegian Chess organizers told The Indian Express that they had already discussed the idea with a few players, including world champions Magnus Carlsen, D Gukesh, and Ding Liren, who gave encouraging comments and stated that they planned to participate.
There are currently three chess world championships: the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championship event, which selects the World Rapid Champion and the World Blitz Champion annually in December, and the classical world championship, which is conducted every two years.
Starting in 2027, the new Total Chess World Championship Tour will consist of four events spread across different cities. The first three events will have 24 competitors, while the final event would have just four players.
Kjell Madland, the CEO of Norway Chess and the driving force behind the new championship, told The Indian Express on Wednesday, “We are trying to build something for the future.” Madland clarified that following an initial meeting with FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich in August 2024 to explore the concept, the Norway Chess organizers had been in contact with FIDE for more than a year. With FIDE on board, Madland clarified, the four new tournaments will receive a window from the international governing body in a crowded yearly chess calendar in addition to being branded as a “official” world championship.
Starting in 2027, the Total Chess World Championship Tour is probably going to include the current Norway Chess competition. One of the few events in the world that gives female players the same amount of money and hosts a women’s event in addition to the open competition is Norway Chess. The organizers of the upcoming Total Chess World Championship Tour have stated that female players will be able to qualify through open tournaments on a “equal basis” with males. Additionally, Norway Chess will keep hosting at least one women’s super-tournament.
“Replicating the enormous success we had in Norway for so many years with chess on TV is one of our main objectives for this tournament. Norway Chess’s co-owner and chief operating officer, Benedicte Westre Skog, stated, “We know from our success that people want to watch chess on TV too.”
“This is a fantastic addition to the venerable and traditional World Chess Championship, where the undisputed champion of classic chess is crowned.” The titles will enhance one another and provide the audience with even more thrills. According to the press release announcing the new tour, Dvorkovich stated, “This is not a short-term initiative, but a long-term agreement between FIDE and Norway Chess.” “We give players a new title to compete for and the audience a quicker tournament format with the Total Chess World Championship Tour.”
