No rating-based spots! FIDE has launched a new qualification system for the 2028 Candidates chess tournaments | Chess News
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has approved a new qualification system for the 2028 FIDE Candidates Tournament and the 2028 FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament. These events decide who will challenge for the World Championship titles. The updated rules are designed to make qualification fairer by rewarding players for strong performances in major tournaments instead of relying on world ranking alone. The changes were proposed by FIDE’s Global Strategy Commission and are aimed at giving players more ways to earn a place in the Candidates.One of the biggest updates is the addition of the Total Chess World Championship Tour 2026–2027 as a direct qualification route. The top two players in the Tour standings earn spots in the 2028 Candidates Tournament.FIDE has also reduced the number of Candidate spots available through the World Cup. From the 2027 edition onwards, only two finalists of the Open and Women’s World Cups will qualify, instead of three players as in previous cycles. Clear substitution rules are also introduced if a qualified player is unable to participate.Another major change is the elimination of the qualification spot based on rating. However, each place will be earned through performances in events such as Grand Swiss, World Cup, Total Chess World Championship Tour, Women’s Grand Prix and FIDE Circuit. In addition, the FIDE Circuit will now award two qualification places based on combined results in the 2026–2027 season instead of one place each year.
Qualification paths and FIDE’s perspective
The Open and Women’s Candidates Tournaments have eight players. Each event has two qualifiers from the Grand Swiss, two from the World Cup, two from the Tour or Women’s Grand Prix, and two from the FIDE Circuit.“The qualification system for the Candidates Tournaments is one of the cornerstones of the World Championship cycle, and it is important that it continues to develop along with the game itself,” said FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich. “These changes are well made to make the qualification process more balanced, transparent, and performance-based. “By introducing the Total Chess World Championship Tour as a new path, refining the allocation of World Cup places, and giving greater weight to the results achieved during the cycle, we ensure that each Candidates’ route rewards sustained excellence at the highest level of competition.”
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