The organizers behind Norway Chess have announced an ambitious new competition officially endorsed by the International Chess Federation (FIDE). The Total Chess World Championship Tour will crown an entirely new FIDE World Combined Champion across three time controls: “fast classical,” rapid, and blitz.
The chess world will see yet another world championship title up for grabs with the creation of the new tour. The first full season is scheduled to launch in 2027, following a pilot event in the fall of 2026, and will feature four tournaments per year.
The events will have a total prize fund of $2.7 million and are set to take place around the world in venues which are yet to be determined.
“We are looking for ‘The Total Chess Player’—a versatile, tactically intelligent, and technically skilled athlete who seamlessly adapts to multiple time controls,” said Kjell Madland, CEO of Norway Chess and of the new championship.
The new format includes the “fast classical” format featuring a time control of 45 minutes with a 30-second increment, which will now count for classically-rated games under FIDE regulations.
The first three events will have a prize fund of $750,000, while the four-player final where the FIDE World Combined Champion is crowned, will offer $450,000. The tour will have 24 players, with a selected number of players qualifying through rating and the remaining players through eligble tournaments such as the World Rapid & Blitz Championship.
Madland said the new series aims to bring chess “to a broader audience than ever before,” with high-end production, interactive broadcasts, and fast-paced games designed to appeal both to core fans and to a new generation of viewers.
FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich also praised the initiative. “We are always looking for ways to innovate and push the boundaries of what chess can be,” he said. “We see this as a great addition to the traditional and prestigious World Chess Championship, where we crown the undisputed champion of classical chess. The championships will complement each other and offer even more excitement for the fans.”
We are always looking for ways to innovate and push the boundaries of what chess can be.
—Arkady Dvorkovich, FIDE President
Norway Chess was founded in 2013, and after thirteen editions the tournament has become one of the most prestigious in the chess world. In 2019, an armageddon format was introduced, with those games played when the classical games are drawn, while Stavanger also organized their first Women’s tournament in 2024, bringing together some of the world’s top-ranked female players.
For GM Magnus Carlsen, seven-time Norway Chess winner and 17-time World Champion and world number-one across all formats, the new competition will likely be a welcome addition to the chess circuit. The 34-year-old withdrew from the world championship cycle in 2023, after expressing his unhappiness with the grueling classical format and the amount of preparation it requires.
Speaking to Chess.com, Madland and Benedicte Westre Skog, Co-Owner and Chief Operating Officer of Norway Chess, confirmed that they have been in touch with Carlsen and “two-three other players” about the concept after the contracts with FIDE were signed last week. “They all thought it was very good.”
It’s not the first time the Stavanger organizers tried to land a World Championship. In 2020, they had to withdraw from the bidding process after pressure from Carlsen, who did not want to play on home soil. Later, they also expressed interest in organizing the World Rapid & Blitz Championship, but faced problems with securing government support due to FIDE obligations to guarantee participation from Russian and Belarusian players.
Now, the ambitious Norwegians told Chess.com they are thrilled to organize what could become a prestigious title for years to come. “The job is starting now. We are going to land investors, secure sponsorship, and find host cities. However, most of the foundation has already been set now,” Madland said.
“We always wanted to expand Norway Chess and think big. It’s incredible that we were able to create a completely new World Championship in the chess calendar, because that’s not easy,” Westre Skog said.
The future of the Norway Chess tournament remains unclear, but the organizers confirmed that the 2026 tournament will take place as planned. “There will be good news in around one month,” Madland said.
