The International Chess Federation has adopted new qualification paths for the 2028 FIDE Candidates and Women's Candidates Tournaments. The rating spot previously used by GM Hikaru Nakamura is eliminated. Two spots now go to the new Total Chess World Championship Tour instead.
The changes affect the eight-player tournaments that will select challengers for the classical world champions. The FIDE World Cup will now qualify two players rather than three. The FIDE Circuit will award two spots based on results over two years ending in 2027.
FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich said the revisions make the process more balanced, transparent, and performance-based. GM Hans Niemann welcomed the move, calling the rating spot terrible and praising the added emphasis on the FIDE Circuit and the new tour.
The Norway Chess and Erling Haaland-backed Total Chess World Championship Tour will launch a pilot edition later this year. It returns in 2027 as a four-tournament series worth $2.7 million, with the top two finishers qualifying for the Candidates.
For the Women's Candidates the FIDE Women's Grand Prix and Grand Swiss each keep two spots. The Women's World Cup drops to two qualifiers, while two places go to the expanded 2026-7 FIDE Women's Circuit.