A New World Championship Title in Chess – FIDE World Combined Champion

Posted on October 15, 2025 BY Rachit Wadhwa

Stavanger, Norway – October 15, 2025 – Norway Chess, in association with the International Federation of Chess (FIDE), has introduced FIDE Total Chess World Championship Tour. The new series combines Fast Classic, Rapid, and Blitz formats to crown the FIDE World Combined Champion, recognizing players skilled across different time controls. The

Kjell Madland, CEO of Norway Chess, explained the goal: “We are looking for a versatile, tactically intelligent, and technically skilled athlete who seamlessly adapts to multiple time controls.”

FIDE President – Arkady Dvorkovich and CEO of Norway Chess / Total Chess World Championship – Kjell Madland during the official signing of the Total Chess World Championship Tour | Credits: Norway Chess

Fast Classic uses a 45-minute base time with a 30-second increment per move and will count toward official classical ratings. The tour consists of four annual events held in various cities. The first three are qualifiers with 24 players each, featuring a minimum prize fund of $750,000 per event. Players compete in all formats, earning points to qualify for the final. The four-player finale has a prize fund of at least $450,000, with the overall champion based on total points. The annual prize pool exceeds $2.7 million, including bonuses for event wins and top scores.The format aims to make chess more accessible through faster games and improved broadcasting via TV and streaming. A pilot event is planned for fall 2026, followed by the full inaugural season in 2027.

FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich supported the initiative, noting: “We are always looking for ways to innovate… This gives players a new title to compete for and the audience a faster tournament format.” He described it as a long-term partnership between FIDE and Norway Chess. President Dvorkovich claimed that the tour complements the traditional World Chess Championship and builds on Norway Chess’s experience with high-level events. The initiative is still being received with mixed reactions with Elite GMs showing excitement, while some fans worrying about the potential diminished prestige of the existing titles. GM Anish Giri chimed in by drawing a parallel with the Grand Chess Tour:

The tour also introduces a new qualification path to the FIDE Candidates, linking it to the conventional World Championship cycle. Will this new title interest World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen? Will it affect the prestige of the Classical World Championship? Stay tuned as developments unfold.

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