FIDE overhauls Chess World Cup format: Fast classical, shorter duration, bigger field, Swiss qualification from 2027
3 min readJul 14, 2026 10:35 AM The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has approved a significant change to the Chess World Cup format, effective from the 2027 cycle. The revamped tournament will be shorter, feature a larger field, and introduce a Swiss-system qualification stage.
The new format reduces the World Cup from 27 days to 19 days. The tournament will now be played in two stages. The opening stage will cons of Swiss-system tournaments played with a fast classical time control of 45 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move. The Open World Cup will feature four Swiss pools, while the Women’s World Cup will be divided into two pools. Each Swiss tournament will be played over nine rounds across five days.
The top players from each pool will advance to the knockout stage. In the Open World Cup, the top four players from each of the four pools (16 players total) will qualify. In the Women’s World Cup, the top eight players from each of the two pools (16 players total) will advance.
The second stage will retain the traditional knockout format. The Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and final will be played using the exing World Cup format and classical time controls. A rest day will separate the Swiss and knockout stages, with two additional rest days scheduled during the knockout phase.
Key changes
2025 Format
2027 Format
Open World Cup Participants
206
224
Women’s World Cup Participants
103
128
Total Prize Fund (Open)
USD 2 million
USD 2.3 million
Total Prize Fund (Women’s)
USD 0.676 million
USD 1 million
Tournament Duration
27 days (Open) / 23 days (Women’s)
19 days (both)
Minimum Games per Player
2
9
Time Control
90’+30″ (Classical)
45’+30″ (Fast Classical)
Previously, the World Cup followed a single-elimination knockout format with 206 players competing over eight rounds. Each round spanned three days, with two classical games followed tie-breaks on the third day. The top 50 seeds received es, while players seeded 51 to 206 competed in the first round.
Under the new format, the Open World Cup field will expand from 206 to 224 players, while the Women’s World Cup will grow from 103 to 128 players. The total prize fund has been increased from USD 2.67 million to USD 3.3 million.
combining a Swiss qualification stage with the traditional knockout finals, FIDE aims to preserve the excitement and prestige of the World Cup while providing every participant with more games and a better overall tournament experience.Story continues below this ad
The 2027 World Cup will be the first edition played under the new format. The host city has not yet been announced.
