Budapest set for star-studded Total Chess World Championship Tour pilot

The chess world's biggest stars have descended on Budapest as anticipation builds for the Total Chess World Championship Tour pilot, an ambitious new tournament bringing together 24 of the world's elite players to test an innovative format and explore a new direction for professional chess.

Among the biggest attractions is Magnus Carlsen, widely regarded as the Greatest of All Time (GOAT), who arrived in Budapest late evening on Monday.

Having held the world No. 1 position for 15 consecutive years, Carlsen's participation adds enormous star power to an already exceptional field and puts the spotlight firmly on the Hungarian capital.

The 24-player field represents an extraordinary gathering of international chess talent, featuring some of the biggest names in the game, multiple elite grandmasters and two of the world's leading female players.

From established champions and former world championship challengers to the next generation of chess superstars, the Budapest Pilot promises a fascinating contest across the board.

The confirmed participants, ranked according to the recent FIDE standard ratings, include:

· Magnus Carlsen (Norway) – World No. 1

· Fabiano Caruana (United States) – World No. 3

· Wesley So (United States) – World No. 6

· Vincent Keymer (Germany) – World No. 9

· Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzbekistan) – World No. 5

· R Praggnanandhaa (India) – World No. 7

· Arjun Erigaisi (India) – World No. 12

· Anish Giri (Netherlands) – World No. 11

· Alireza Firouzja (France) – World No. 10

· Jan-Krzysztof Duda (Poland) – World No. 13

· Liem Le (Vietnam) – World No. 16

· Richard Rapport (Hungary) – World No. 23

· Levon Aronian (USA) – World No. 20

· Hans Moke Niemann (United States) – World No. 32

· Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan) – World No. 27

· Ian Nepomniachtchi (FIDE) – World No. 22

· Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France) – World No. 28

· Jorden van Foreest (Netherlands) – World No. 24

· Haik M. Martirosyan (Armenia) – World No. 48

· Vladislav Artemiev (FIDE) – World No. 66

· Abhimanyu Mishra (USA) – World No. 76 and the world's youngest Grandmaster

· Andrew Hong (USA) – World No. 134

· Bibisara Assaubayeva (Kazakhstan) – Women's World No. 7

· Vaishali Rameshbabu (India) – Women's World No. 24

With a total prize fund of $650,000, the stakes could hardly be higher for a pilot event.

Testing a new vision for professional chess

At its heart is the testing of a new competitive format designed to bring a fresh dimension to elite chess, creating a more dynamic, engaging and compelling experience for players, fans and audiences worldwide.

Alongside the on-board competition, the event will introduce an enhanced broadcast experience featuring world-class production, an expert commentary panel, live insights and in-depth post-match studio analysis, bringing viewers closer to the players, their strategies and the drama behind every game.

About the format

The Total Chess World Championship Tour Pilot introduces a ground-breaking competition format designed to identify the world's most complete chess player by combining Fast Classic, Rapid and Blitz into a single championship.

The pilot event will bring together 24 elite players, who will begin the tournament in a group stage comprising four groups of six players each.

Every group follows a double round-robin format over five days, with players contesting ten Fast Classical games (45 minutes plus a 30-second increment).

Victories earn three points, while draws are worth one point. A nine-round Blitz Swiss tournament held before the competition determines tie-break rankings.

Following the group stage, players progress into knockout brackets based on their finishing positions.

Each knockout match is played over two days and tests competitors across all three disciplines—four Blitz games (3+2), two Rapid games (15+10) and one Fast Classical game (45+30)—with weighted scoring rewarding success in longer formats.

The four highest-ranked players across the Tour qualify for the Grand Final, where semifinals and the championship match determine the inaugural FIDE World Combined Champion.

Should a knockout match remain tied, an Armageddon game is used to decide the winner, ensuring every contest produces a definitive result.

The format rewards consistency, versatility and excellence across every major discipline of elite chess.

About Total Chess

Developed by Norway Chess and approved by FIDE, the Total Chess World Championship Tour introduces a unified format that crowns the world's ultimate champion by testing excellence across three disciplines: Fast Classical, Rapid and Blitz.

The Tour will bring together the world's top 24 men and women players to compete across four premier international events hosted in leading global cities.