Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Indian Trio Set for Total Chess World Championship Tour
A new chess tournament series is starting in Budapest.
Three Indian players—Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi and Vaishali Rameshbabu—will compete.
The event will run from November 10 to 20.
There will be 24 players in the first tournament.
Famous players such as Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana will also play.
The tour is planned to have four tournaments every year.
The first three events will have 24 players, while the final event will have only four.
The winner will be called the FIDE World Combined Champion.
R Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi and Vaishali Rameshbabu will compete in the inaugural tour.
The pilot tournament will take place in Budapest from November 10 to 20.
The 24-player field includes Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana and Hans Niemann.
The annual tour is planned to feature four events across different cities.
The finale will have four players and determine the FIDE World Combined Champion.
- Who
- R Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, Vaishali Rameshbabu and other leading chess players, including Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana and Hans Niemann.
- What
- The inaugural Total Chess World Championship Tour pilot tournament will be held with 24 players.
- When
- November 10–20.
- Where
- Budapest.
- Why
- The tour aims to identify the world’s best player across all three existing chess formats and crown a FIDE World Combined Champion.
- Event
- Total Chess World Championship Tour pilot
- Location
- Budapest
- Dates
- November 10–20
- Initial field
- 24 players
- Annual format
- Four events across various cities
- Finale format
- Four players
- Proposed title
- FIDE World Combined Champion