![\"No](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-132418362,imgsize-163058,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/2026-candidates-women-champion-vaishali-with-her-mother-fide-photo.jpg\" "\\"2026")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nThe International Chess Federation (FIDE) has approved a new qualification system for the 2028 FIDE Candidates Tournament and the 2028 FIDE Women\u2019s 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 across major tournaments instead of relying on world rankings alone. The changes were proposed by FIDE\u2019s Global Strategy Commission and aim to give 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\u20132027 as a direct qualification route. The top two players in the Tour standings will earn spots in the 2028 Candidates Tournament.FIDE has also reduced the number of Candidates spots available through the World Cup. From the 2027 edition onwards, only the two finalists in both the Open and Women\u2019s World Cups will qualify, instead of three players as in previous cycles. Clear replacement rules have also been introduced if a qualified player cannot take part.Another major change is the removal of the rating-based qualification spot. Instead, every place will now be earned through performances in events such as the Grand Swiss, World Cup, Total Chess World Championship Tour, Women\u2019s Grand Prix and the FIDE Circuit. In addition, the FIDE Circuit will now award two qualification places based on combined results over the 2026\u20132027 season rather than one place each year.<\/p>\n Both the Open and Women\u2019s Candidates Tournaments will feature eight players. Each event will have two qualifiers from the Grand Swiss, two from the World Cup, two from the Tour or Women\u2019s Grand Prix, and two from the FIDE Circuit.\u201cThe qualification system for the Candidates Tournaments is one of the cornerstones of the World Championship cycle, and it is essential that it continues to evolve alongside the game itself,\u201d said FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich. \u201cThese changes have been carefully developed to make the qualification process more balanced, transparent, and performance-based. “By introducing the Total Chess World Championship Tour as a new pathway, refining the allocation of World Cup places, and placing greater emphasis on results achieved during the cycle, we are ensuring that every route to the Candidates rewards sustained excellence at the highest level of competition.\u201d<\/div>\nQualification paths and FIDE\u2019s view
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