FIDE removes rating spot from 2028 Candidates qualification

FIDE has approved the qualification systems for the 2028 Candidates Tournament and Women’s Candidates Tournament. Each eight-player field will be filled through four routes, with two places awarded by each path.

In the Open cycle, the top two players from the Grand Swiss, World Cup, Total Chess World Championship Tour and combined 2026–2027 FIDE Circuit will qualify. The Women’s cycle will use the Grand Swiss, Women’s World Cup, Women’s Grand Prix and combined two-year FIDE Circuit.

The standalone rating qualification spot has been removed. The World Cup allocation also falls from three places to two, meaning only the finalists will advance directly from the 2027 Open and Women’s World Cups.

The FIDE Circuit will no longer award one place per year. Instead, the two highest-ranked eligible players across the combined 2026–2027 standings will qualify.

Image: FIDE.