The tournament is an eight-round knockout event, with the top 50 seeds given a bye into the second round. The losers of the two semi-finals play a match for third place. The players who finish first, second, and third qualify for the
Candidates Tournament 2026, a tournament to decide the challenger for the
World Chess Championship 2026. Each round consists of classical time limit games on the first two days, plus tie-breaks on the third day if they are required. The time limits are as follows: • The two classical games have a time limit of 90 minutes each side for the first 40 moves, then 30 extra minutes for the rest of the game, + 30 seconds increment per move starting from move 1. • If the match is tied 1–1 after the two classical games, two
rapid games are played with 15 minutes + 10 seconds increment. • If the match is tied 2–2, two rapid games of 10 minutes + 10 seconds increment are played. • If the match is tied 3–3, two
blitz games of 5 minutes + 3 seconds increment are played. • If the match is tied 4–4, two blitz games of 3 minutes + 2 seconds increment are played. • If the match is tied 5–5, a single sudden death
armageddon game is played. White has 4 minutes + 2 seconds increment. Each player bids for Black's starting time + 2 seconds increment, and the player who submits the lowest time wins the bid and plays with Black. If both players make the same bid, a drawing of lots shall determine the colours. If the armageddon game results in a draw, Black wins the match.
Schedule Each round lasts three days: two for classical time control games and a third, if necessary, for tie-breaks. Rounds 1 to 3 run from 1 to 9 November; 10 November is a rest day; Rounds 4 to 6 run from 11 to 19 November; 20 November is a rest day; Rounds 7 (semi-final) and 8 (final and 3rd/4th play off) run from 21 to 26 November.
Prize money The total prize fund is US$2,000,000, with the first prize of US$120,000.
Qualification The following players qualified for the World Cup: • 4 nominees of the FIDE president (PN) • 2 nominees of the organiser (ON) Afghanistan and Chinese Taipei did not nominate a player, and two additional Presidential Nominees were invited instead. Pakistan had nominated a player but declined to participate later,
Leon Luke Mendonca, a reserved Presidential Nominee was invited to the tournament instead. == Participants ==