2024 Candidates qualification revised process

[Matt Mackenzie]

Ian Nepomniachtchi (World Championship match runner-up)
Magnus Carlsen (#FIDEWorldCup winner)
Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu (#FIDEWorldCup runner-up)
Fabiano Caruana (#FIDEWorldCup up third place)
Vidit Gujrathi (#FIDEGrandSwiss winner)
Hikaru Nakamura (#FIDEGrandSwiss runner-up)
Alireza Firouzja (Best by #FIDErating)
Gukesh Dommaraju (#FIDECircuit winner)

Carlsen won't play, will he?

99.9% certain he will not, so who is his likely replacement?

[LawrenceCooper]

Ian Nepomniachtchi (World Championship match runner-up)
Magnus Carlsen (#FIDEWorldCup winner)
Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu (#FIDEWorldCup runner-up)
Fabiano Caruana (#FIDEWorldCup up third place)
Vidit Gujrathi (#FIDEGrandSwiss winner)
Hikaru Nakamura (#FIDEGrandSwiss runner-up)
Alireza Firouzja (Best by #FIDErating)
Gukesh Dommaraju (#FIDECircuit winner)

Carlsen won't play, will he?

99.9% certain he will not, so who is his likely replacement?

Abasov.

[Matt Mackenzie]

If for any reason he (or indeed any other Candidate) declines to participate, then So would apparently get his chance after all.

[Mick Norris]

If for any reason he (or indeed any other Candidate) declines to participate, then So would apparently get his chance after all.

No, it's the 4th in the World Cup that replaces the winner, hence Abasov instead of Carlsen

FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024: Qualification paths 

Eight players shall qualify for FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024 by the following criteria: 

Path A. 1 spot – FIDE World Championship Match 2023, Runner‐up (Ian Nepomniachtchi or Ding Liren)* 

Path B. 3 spots - FIDE World Cup 2023 (Baku 2023), three players who finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd. 
If any of these players already qualified for the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024 or the FIDE World Championship Match 2024 at the moment of the beginning of World Cup via another qualification path, the qualification spot(s) shall be be awarded, in order of priority: 
‐ the player who finished in 4th place in the World Cup;  
‐ according to rating as in (E). 

Path C. 2 spots – FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament 2023 (Isle of Man 2023), two players who finish 1st and 2nd. 
If any of these players already qualified for the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024 or the FIDE World Championship Match 2024 at the moment of the beginning of Grand Swiss via another qualification path, the qualification spot(s) shall be awarded to the highest‐placed player(s) in the final standings who have not yet qualified to the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024 at the moment of the beginning of Grand Swiss. 

Path D. 1 spot – High -level International Tournaments (HIT),
the player with the best results during one year (2023) in FIDE rated tournaments satisfying the below criteria who has not already qualified from Path A, B or C. The winner becomes a qualifier before determining a qualifier by rating as in (E). 

Path E. 1 spot – The highest-rated player by standard rating in the January 2024 rating list provided that the player has played at least four standard eligible tournaments according to the criteria in Article 1.1 of the Regulations for the FIDE Circuit 2023 (see FIDE Handbook D.01.14), who has not already qualified from Path A, B, C or D. If two or more players have equal ratings, the drawing of lots shall be used to determine the qualifier.

Reserves 

If reserves are needed due to a withdrawal from the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024, their spot is allocated to a player who has not already qualified, in the following way: 
‐ In Paths B and C, the next highest‐finisher in the final tournament standings, but not beyond 4th place. 
If this fails to replace a player, then the spot(s) are allocated using the process in Path E. 
‐ In Paths A, D and E, using the process in Path E. 

[Matt Mackenzie]

i meant if Abasov (or someone else in addition to Carlsen) were to choose not to take part.

I wonder if there might be a bit of a lobby for him (NA) to indeed withdraw in order that So can compete?

[Mick Norris]

So could easily have played somewhere last month to aim for either the Ratings spot, or the FIDE Circuit spot; he's not that bothered

Abasov has got a great opportunity, so good luck to him, I hope he plays

[Matt Mackenzie]

I don't personally disagree, just wondering if there will be moves to try and make that happen.

[Jonathan Rogers]

To be honest, since there must at some point be a "highest rated player in the world not to make the Candidates'", I would probably want it to be So! I think he would probably draw most of his games, many of which would follow preparation, and never threaten the leaders. It would be worse for the highest rated player who misses out to be someone whom one would watch with great interest. (Thus my preparedness to shrug my shoulders when Firouzja made 7/7 at Rouen).

[Mick Norris]

FIDE Changes to qualification paths for the Candidates Tournament

FIDE has introduced a series of changes to the qualification paths that will be in effect for the FIDE Candidates Tournament in 2026. Most notably, the runner-up from the World Championship match no longer automatically qualifies for the Candidates

The alterations are aimed at enhancing the competitive landscape, encouraging player participation, and ensuring a fair representation of the top contenders.

The amendments will impact the selection process through various paths.

The runner-up in the World Championship will no longer automatically get a spot in the next Candidates Tournament. Instead, the runner-up will now need to navigate the qualification process.

To compensate for this change, World Championship Match 2024 is also recognized as an eligible tournament for FIDE Circuit and the runner-up will receive special bonus points for playing the match. The points they gain in the match for the World Championship title will be calculated based on performance. This means the points gained for the FIDE Circuit will depend on the score of the match. If the match is lost on tie-breaks, the runner-up will get more points than when they lose in the standard part of the match with rounds to spare.

The spot reserved for the highest-rated player will now be determined by the six-month average rating, not the previous 12 months or the current rating.

This spot is exclusive to the player ranked first in the FIDE rating list. If the player withdraws, the qualification spot shall be awarded to the second-highest rated player. If the second-highest rated player has already qualified, the qualification spot will be redirected to FIDE Circuit 2025 path.

Notably, the six-month average rating rule eliminates the possibility of players relying on a "last chance" tournament in December of the year in the run-up to the Candidates.

Two spots in the FIDE Circuit - for the years 2024 and 2025 - will serve as qualifying paths for the 2026 Candidates.

The final score will be the sum of a player's highest event scores, but not more than seven event scores. For reference, the score calculation for Circuit 2024 was based on five event scores.

Other main changes in FIDE Circuit rules:

1) for round-robin tournaments points are given to the top three places only,

2) a new bonus for sole 1st place without any tie-break criteria is added,

3) an unlimited number of tournaments in one country is allowed, in case the average rating of top eight players of each event is 2650 or higher.

Organizers of events taking place after July 1st, 2024, must notify FIDE GSC at least three months in advance.

FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 will witness eight players qualifying through distinct paths, emphasizing diversity and fairness, ensuring a competitive and merit-based selection process.

“These changes have been carefully thought through, considering all important factors, with the aim of making the qualification process more engaging and fairer. This reflects FIDE's commitment to evolving and refining the qualification process, promoting a dynamic and competitive chess environment,” FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich said.

As the chess community eagerly awaits the Candidates Tournament in Toronto, these alterations for the 2026 event are poised to shape a new era in the journey towards determining the World Chess Champion.

[Peter Shaw]

https://twitter.com/chess24com/status/1 ... 1174786327

[Kevin Thurlow]

What Peter said, and

"FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 will witness eight players qualifying through distinct paths, emphasizing diversity and fairness, ensuring a competitive and merit-based selection process."

Or not.

You can rely on FIDE to fill in your "Buzzword Bingo" sheet in record time. It's nice to hear a Russian preaching "diversity and fairness" as well.