As never before, chess is present in the mainstream media – albeit usually for the wrong reasons (not least cheating allegations, “jeansgate”, and alleged Russian political influence in the top level running of the game). 

It is now widely accepted that the COVID pandemic had a net positive impact on chess – the rise in the number of people taking up the game during lockdown, the boom in online chess and, of course, the Queen’s Gambit effect. While chess has not really made it into the mainstream in the way many in the chess world had hoped (by major media outlets giving regular and prominent coverage to chess events, with chess world headlines and sports coverage), online viewing numbers have significantly grown which has led to more online events. This has also attracted increased prize funds and new commercial sponsors and investors, such as Tech Mahindra (which is backing the Global Chess League) and the German entrepreneur Jan Henric Buettner (who is backing “Freestyle Chess”, originally known as Fischer Random).

Despite the financial turmoil caused by COVID and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which lead to a significant loss of sponsorship and revenue, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) has managed to replace the lost income by partnering with online platforms and finding new backers such as the US-based Freedom Holding Corp (originally from Kazakhstan) and sponsorship from the Scheinberg Family (who once owned the well-known poker platform, PokerStars).

A report by India-based Fortune Business Insights put the valuation of chess at approximately $3.34 billion in 2024, with a projected growth to over $3.70 billion in 2025. A report by India-based Fortune Business Insights put the valuation of chess at approximately $3.34 billion in 2024, with a projected growth to over $3.70 billion in 2025. The same company predicts that by 2032 the chess market will be valued at $7.64 billion.

Chess players, too, are benefitting financially. While most still have to resort to government or private support and giving lessons, as Chess. com reported recently those at the top netted big earnings from events not to mention additional income from private sponsorships.

With more commercial interest and FIDE -as the sole governing body of world chess - taking an active role as a facilitator and provider of chess events, 2026 promises to bring about many changes, both on and off the board.

A NEW ROMANCE BETWEEN FIDE AND FREESTYLE

Following a heated public dispute in late 2024/early 2025 over who has the right to award the title of “World Champion”, FIDE and the German-based Freestyle Chess Operations GmbH settled their differences in early 2026. On 7th January, FIDE announced on its website “the first official FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship”. Hosted in Weissenhaus in Germany from February 13–15 2026, the event will be governed by FIDE in collaboration with Freestyle Chess, the announcement said.

In this announcement FIDE was courteous to Buettner but reminded everyone who is in charge when it comes to the governance of titles. “This World Championship and signed cooperation agreement bring FIDE and Freestyle Chess together within a clear and transparent sporting framework. It is important that elite competition in this format is governed under established international standards administered by FIDE as the sole governing body of world chess,” said Arkady Dvorkovich, President of FIDE.

And as if all tensions and matters in dispute had disappeared overnight (not least the publication of private text messages between Dvorkovich and Buettner and the public attack on FIDE by Magnus Carlsen who is a stakeholder in Freestyle), Jan Henric Buettner told ChessBase that he “couldn’t be happier” with the outcome.

The total prize fund is $300,000 with $100,000 awarded to the FIDE Freestyle Chess World Champion. The event will also feature a Women’s Exhibition in Fischer Random/Freestyle Chess. Additionally, the parties have agreed to launch the inaugural FIDE Women’s Freestyle Chess Championship in late 2026. The event will feature a $50,000 prize fund, financed from the payment made by Freestyle Chess under the current agreement with FIDE, as stated in the announcement.

This agreement ensures that FIDE has successfully addressed a potentially dangerous issue that could have led to a schism in the chess world, with more than one body claiming the right to award the world champion title. By putting a lid on this issue, Dvorkovich has also achieved one other important goal - removing a potential source of problems or opposition to him in this election year for the next FIDE President.

ANOTHER NEW WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Prior to Freestyle, FIDE announced another private partnership for the world championship title: the Total Chess World Championship Tour.

Announced in October 2025, the Total Chess World Championship is organised by Norway Chess. The Tour is approved by FIDE and will consist of four events each year crowning a combined champion across three disciplines – fast classic, rapid and blitz chess.

With a minimum prize pool of $2.7m ($750k per event for the first three events, $450k for the Finals, plus performance bonuses) the first event is planned for autumn 2026, with the full, proper championship season starting in 2027.

FASTER TIME CONTROLS ARE THE NEW NORMAL

In an era where everything needs to be fast or instant, chess is also catching up.

On 12th January 2026 FIDE announced that it has approved specific shortened time control formats to count toward standard ratings and title norms.

This announcement explained that “based on feedback from participants, organisers, partners, and consultations with top-tier Grandmasters, FIDE has decided to adjust the regulations to reflect the evolving needs of the chess community”.

Effective immediately for the 2026 calendar, results in tournaments with a time control of 45 minutes plus a 30-second increment (45+30) or longer (60+30) may now be rated in the same way as standard time control games.

While there are strict conditions for an event with shorter time controls to be recognised and approved by FIDE, the decision will leave some asking questions. Many chess puritans will argue that the push for faster time controls might, for example, devalue titles or give an advantage to younger players who are quicker at analysis and calculation.

But it seems that FIDE’s arguments are in the spirit of Edmund Burke’s concept of “changing to preserve”. “We are adapting the pace of modern sport, while preserving the quality and essence of the game. This format allows for more dynamic chess events without compromising the quality of play and the depth of the games,” commented FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich.

THE BIGGEST EVENTS IN THE CHESS WORLD: CANDIDATES, WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES AND THE CHESS OLYMPIAD

There are three major events in the chess calendar for 2026.

First come the Candidates (Open and Women’s, side by side) which will take place in April in Cyprus. The event will determine who will challenge Gukesh in the Open and Ju Wenjun in the Women’s competition for the title of World Champion.

The matches for the titles of World Champion will be held separately. Dates are yet to be announced but they should take place this year.

Also in 2026 the 46th Chess Olympiad will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from 15-28 September.

So, in 2026 not only might we see new world champions but we will also find out whether India can defend the Olympic gold medals they so gloriously won in Budapest in 2024.

THE FIDE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS AND CHESS POLITICS

Traditionally, the chess Olympiad is also when the FIDE Congress takes place.

The FIDE Congress is the annual official gathering of delegates of FIDE, encompassing various statutory meetings of its governing bodies.

The Congress is the main forum where important FIDE business is conducted and where its leadership is decided. The current FIDE President, Arkady Dvorkovich, was re-elected for his second four-year term in August 2022, alongside Deputy President Viswanathan Anand. Dvorkovich is widely expected to run again. While there is no opposing candidate at this stage, it is rumoured that the ECF’s Malcolm Pein is offering to run, but he appears to be struggling to find sufficient support or finance.

This year may also see the return of Russian and Belarusian players to chess competition under their national flags. The FIDE General Assembly recently adopted two important resolutions in this regard. One, to fully lift all restrictions on the participation of Russian and Belarusian players in events, and a second saying that the restrictions should be lifted in line with the decisions of the IOC. The first resolution was drafted by the Chess Federation of Russia and gained 61 votes in favour (with 51 against, 14 abstentions and 15 delegates not voting), while the second resolution, proposed by FIDE, attracted wider support with 69 votes in favour, 40 against, 15 abstentions and 17 delegates not voting.

However, Western European federations were suspicious of the integrity of the voting process and decisions, and claimed that the two votes were in conflict. Nonetheless, what is clear from both votes is that the majority of the chess world does not whole-heatedly support restrictions on Russian and Belarusian players, and the only real question now seems to be whether the majority want to align the FIDE position with the IOC recommendations.

Five European federations (Ukraine, England, Norway, Estonia and Germany) have filed a complaint to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, challenging the procedure by which the FIDE General Assembly reached these decisions. FIDE has dismissed the criticism and said it is confident it will win the case.

So, an extremely eventful and important year for the chess world lies ahead in 2026! Let us sincerely hope that positive developments will outweigh the negatives, that previous disputes do not re-emerge, and that the FIDE motto “Gens Una Sumus” proves to be more than a rather empty and mysterious phrase on billboards and in chess promotional materials.

The above article appeared in the British Chess Magazine, which contains 64 pages packed with exclusive articles and annotations. You can buy a subscription (£55 per year, £4.58 per issue)  or download a sample copy free.

Milan Dinić – editor of The British Chess Magazine

Currently based in London, Milan heads content strategy and innovations at the global market research company YouGov and is an assistant for new projects for the founder and CEO of YouGov Stephan Shakespeare. For a number of years he has been working as a journalist and editor for various media, mostly print and Internet, and as a press officer for FIDE at international events. In Serbia and the Balkans he has published in both daily and weekly newspapers. He worked for the FOX TV Network in Serbia as a reporter, and has also worked as a researcher, fixer and translator for The Guardian, where he has published several articles, as well as other international media.