By Admin 
Norway Chess and the world chess governing body FIDE are joining hands for a new tour and to identify one more new World champion. Chess already has World champions in the classical, rapid and blitz formats and now there would be one in total chess as well.
The CEO of Norway Chess, Kjell Madland, told The Hindu that the pilot of the new tournament will be held next year and the first World championship tour in the format in 2027. “The new tour will have games played in all the three formats – classical, rapid and blitz – and it will have four legs to be played in four venues,” he said over the phone on Wednesday.
“The classical format will be of lesser time duration than normal, though: it will be 45 minutes, with increment, and it will be rated as a classical game. The time could even go up to 60 minutes instead of 45.”
Madland said the world’s leading players would be part of the tour. “We have spoken to the players and they are all interested in this format,” he said. “The players will qualify for the tour through various routes.”
There will be a minimum of $750,000 for each of the first three events. The finals, which will decide the champion, will have a prize-money of at least $450,000 in a four-player field.
FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich said the Total Chess World Championship Tour was another great addition to the tradition of the World championship. “We hope the tournament can captivate both the existing chess fans and new audiences,” he said. “These championships will complement each other. This is not a short-term initiative, but a long-term agreement between FIDE and Norway Chess.”
Madland said India was a potential venue for one of the legs of the inaugural World Total Chess Tour. “We would be delighted to partner with organisers in India,” he said.