India, July 15 -- A day after FIDE announced changes to the World Cup format, making it shorter and faster, the world chess body removed the rating spot and the World Cup third-place qualification route from the 2028 Candidates Tournament qualification path.

The eight-player Candidates tournament determines who gets to challenge the defending champion in the World Championship.

A new Candidates qualification route has been introduced through the Total Chess World Championship Tour. The top two players in the final standings of the Tour will directly qualify for the eight-player tournament.

Created by Norway Chess, which features world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen as its flagbearer, the Tour combines fast classical, rapid and blitz formats. In ...