Big changes to the World Chess Cup! FIDE approves new format for Open and Women’s events from 2027

FIDE World Cup Women 2025 Divya Deshmukh and FIDE World Cup 2025 winner Javokhir Sindarov (PTI Photos) The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has approved a major overhaul of the World Cup and Women’s World Cup formats from 2027 to make the tournaments shorter, more inclusive and more rewarding for players.The biggest change is that both events will now last 19 days instead of 27. Instead of direct elimination, players will first compete in a qualifying phase using the Swiss system before the traditional elimination rounds begin. In the opening phase, players are divided into separate Swiss groups where each can play several games. The improved format begins with the Swiss system qualifiers, which use a 45-minute time and a 30-second increment per move. The top players from each pool will then advance to the 16-player knockout stage, which will continue the familiar time-controlled format.FIDE also expanded the size of both tournaments. The World Open will grow from 206 to 224 players, while the Women’s World Championship will increase from 103 to 128 players.New qualification paths have also been introduced. Along with continental qualifiers, players can now qualify through the FIDE Grand Swiss, FIDE Circuit, Total Chess World Championship and as the highest ranked senior player. The continental representation has also been strengthened with more qualifying spots for each region.

Bigger prize pool, shorter tournament

FIDE has increased the combined prize pool for the two events from US$2.67 million in 2025 to US$3.3 million in 2027. Prize money will continue to be distributed to all participants, with players finishing lower in the rankings receiving higher payouts than before, while the prize for the winner will remain unchanged.FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich explained the changes: “The new format has been designed to preserve the unique identity of the FIDE World Championship while adapting it to the evolving needs of modern chess. We believe that the combination of the Swiss qualification and the knockout final will offer a more engaging experience for both players and fans.”READ ALSO: India has 98th CEO! Both Parents Chess Coaches 10th Board Exam Forced Break: By Aswath SHe added: “At the same time, we are making the FIDE World Cups more inclusive than ever before… With these changes, the FIDE World Cup and the FIDE Women’s World Cup will remain among the most watched competitions in international chess, while continuing to serve as key gateways to the World Championship cycle for players from all corners of the world.”