For over a century, chess fans have known one supreme crown: the World Chess Championship.
A duel of endurance, intellect, and nerves played at the longest time controls.
However, a new proposal from Norway Chess, officially endorsed by FIDE, aims to change that.
The Total Chess World Championship (also known as the Combined World Championship Tour) aims to redefine what it means to be the world’s best chess player.
Instead of focusing solely on classical games, this new format will test players across fast classical, rapid, and blitz chess.
It’s bold, it’s modern, and it’s stirring debate across the global chess community.
The Birth of a New Championship
In October 2025, the organizers of Norway Chess, one of the most respected tournaments in the modern era, announced a groundbreaking project.
With FIDE’s official approval, they plan to launch a Total Chess World Championship Tour, starting with a pilot event in 2026 and the first full season in 2027.
This tour won’t replace the traditional classical World Championship. Instead, it will complement it, creating a new title: FIDE World Combined Champion.
The idea is simple yet revolutionary: crown the best all-around chess player; someone equally skilled in long, medium, and short formats.
The Format: All Time Controls, One Champion
Unlike the single-format events we are familiar with: classical, rapid, or blitz, the Total Chess Tour combines them all.
Each season will feature four tournaments held across different countries. Players will compete in a mixture of fast classical (45 minutes + 30-second increments), rapid, and blitz games.
This new “fast classical” time control is particularly notable. FIDE recently confirmed that games played at 45+30 will count toward a player’s classical rating.
That change alone shows how serious they are about modernizing the game.
Each event will contribute points to a season-long leaderboard. At the end of the season, the top four players will qualify for a grand final, where the overall champion will be decided.
The proposed prize pool is estimated at $2.7 million per season, with approximately $750,000 allocated to each of the first three tournaments and $450,000 reserved for the grand finale.
Why the Change?
For years, fans and organizers have debated whether the classical World Championship truly identifies the best player in the modern chess era.
Classical games can be slow and sometimes lack action. Many top players, including Magnus Carlsen, have openly expressed fatigue with the long, match-based championship cycle.
The new Total Chess format aims to address this issue.
Broader Appeal
Faster time controls attract more viewers and suit modern broadcasting. A 45-minute game is digestible for both live audiences and online streams.
Former world champion Magnus Carlsen was very vocal in his support for the project.
Rewarding Versatility
The format identifies the best complete chess player: someone who thrives in any time control.
More Championship Events
Instead of waiting every two years for a single World Championship match, fans will enjoy multiple high-stakes tournaments each season.
Increased Commercial Potential
With four global events per year, sponsors and broadcasters have more opportunities to invest in the game.
FIDE’s Involvement and Vision
Unlike private events such as the Grand Chess Tour or the Freestyle Chess Championship, this project carries official FIDE recognition.
FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich has described the plan as a step toward modernizing the sport without losing its essence.
The federation sees it as a complementary title, not a rival to the classical World Championship. In other words, the winner of the Candidates Tournament will still challenge for the classical crown.
But this new title will celebrate the most versatile player, someone who can adapt to any pace or situation.
Challenges Ahead
Still, every major reform in chess faces hurdles, and this one is no exception.
Title Dilution
Critics fear that too many world titles might confuse fans.
We already have champions for Classical, Rapid, Blitz, and Fischer Random.
Adding another might blur the prestige of the “world champion” label. Players like Hikaru Nakamura have criticized the new format.
In Hikaru’s words, “to me, on the surface, I don’t understand the purpose of this at all”
Player Schedules
The global chess calendar is already packed with Grand Tours, Candidates events, Olympiads, and club leagues. Fitting four new major tournaments each year could prove difficult.
Player Buy-In
The success of this tour depends heavily on top players committing to it. If Carlsen, Gukesh, Ding, or Caruana skip it, it risks feeling secondary.
There have also been criticisms that Norway Chess is creating this tournament as a way to get Magnus Carlsen back into the world championship mix.
Scoring and Balance
Ensuring that rapid and blitz results don’t outweigh classical performance is a delicate challenge. The format’s credibility depends on getting this balance right.
Logistical Complexity
Organizing four major events in different continents each year means securing sponsors, venues, and broadcast deals, which is a massive undertaking.
Despite these challenges and criticisms, FIDE and Norway Chess seem confident. With a successful pilot in 2026, they aim to refine the details before the full launch in 2027.
A Potential Turning Point for the Game
If done right, the Total Chess World Championship could reshape how chess is played and watched.
Imagine one leaderboard tracking the world’s elite throughout a season; every game counting toward a single, unified goal.
It’s the kind of structure that could make chess more thrilling for fans and more stable for players.
Sponsors would gain multiple windows for exposure, broadcasters could create storylines across months, and fans could follow a clear narrative, from opening event to grand finale.
The Spirit of Total Chess
The phrase “Total Chess” itself captures the essence of what makes the game beautiful, its adaptability.
A player like Magnus Carlsen, who excels in every time format, would fit perfectly into this system.
But it could also open the door for promising talents like Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, whose tactical alertness and fast intuition shine in shorter games.
Looking Ahead
Next year will be crucial. The 2026 pilot event will test how players and audiences respond.
If the format succeeds, it might inspire a broader transformation, perhaps even influencing how the future World Championship itself is structured.
If it fails, it’ll serve as another reminder of how hard it is to balance tradition with innovation in chess.
Either way, the Total Chess World Championship signals a clear truth:
Chess is evolving.
And for the first time in decades, we won’t just be asking who’s the best classical player, we’re asking who’s the best all-round chess player in the world.
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