Dojo Talks: A Chess Podcast

EP 169 | Total Chess World Championship Tour

14 snips
Oct 19, 2025
The hosts dive into Norway Chess's ambitious Total Chess World Championship Tour, examining its innovative fast classical format and prize fund controversies. They discuss Magnus Carlsen's possible central role and how this new tour compares to St. Louis Chess Club's traditional model. The team tackles the legitimacy of fast classical ratings and the confusion it brings for fans. Lastly, they explore the growing competition between classical, freestyle, and online chess, warning of a battle over the soul of chess.
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INSIGHT

Resemblance To Grand Chess Tour

  • The tour resembles the Grand Chess Tour but replaces classical with fast classical, sparking criticism from top players like Magnus.
ADVICE

Keep Tour Scoring Transparent

  • Avoid confusing tour scoring systems that make it hard for fans to follow who's leading.
INSIGHT

House Spots Are Controversial

  • Granting "house" wildcard candidate spots to a privately run tour is controversial and risks undermining fairness.
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