“I’m investing in Norway Chess because I believe the new Total Chess World Championship Tour can turn chess into an even bigger sport for spectators around the world.”

Erling Haaland
World-Famous Footballer and Investor in Norway Chess AS
Three Disciplines. One Crown.
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All 6 streams10–20 November at the Anantara New York Palace, Budapest. Only 200 spots per day. Total Chess merch is available in our webshop.
A new era in chess
The Total Chess World Championship Tour is a new world championship founded by Norway Chess and approved by FIDE. For the first time, the world’s top players will compete across three chess disciplines to determine the combined champion.
The official pilot of the Total Chess World Championship Tour will take place from 10–20 November 2026 at Anantara New York Palace Hotel in Budapest. The full tour will take place in 2027 and will unite Fast Classic, Rapid, and Blitz chess in a single competitive journey — spanning multiple cities and continents.
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The event has officially begun! The spectacular opening ceremony marked the official start of the tournament. During the technical meeting, the groups were drawn, meaning we now know the match-ups for the days ahead. But before the fast classic games get underway, the players warmed up with a Swiss-system blitz tournament, which was won by one and only Magnus Carlsen.

The world's best opened the pilot with nine rounds of 3+2 blitz, the first of the three disciplines that will decide the most complete player in Budapest

24 elite players, led by world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, assemble in Budapest for a landmark tournament testing a new vision for professional chess, with $650,000 in prize money at stake

Oslo, Norway, November 9th 2026 The world’s leading sports streaming platform, DAZN, will broadcast the Total Chess World Championship Tour Pilot in Budapest, bringing the event to audiences across more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.

The Total Chess Pilot event is just around the corner! Players are slowly heading to Budapest, and excitement is building ahead of this brand-new chess competition. With an innovative format, a star-studded field, and three different time controls, there is plenty to look forward to. But before the first games begin, let's take a closer look at everything you need to know about the Total Chess Pilot event.

The Total Chess Pilot event will bring together some of the hottest names in the chess world. Most of them are well known to chess enthusiasts for their incredible skills and achievements, and many of us know them through the screens of our computers. But little do people realise that behind every chess player, there is a person with their own childhood memories, hobbies and passions outside of chess. Sounds unreal? Let's get to know some of our players both on and off the chessboard!
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