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World Chess Championship 2026 Rules: Format & Tie-Breaks

The Salesforce FIDE World Championship Match 2026 has at most 14 classical games; the first player to reach 7.5 points takes the match. Every game starts at 15:00 Geneva time (14:00 UTC on every game day). (regulations 4.1, 4.4.1; regulations 4.6.1 (3:00 pm for every round); ticket site (Round 1 at 15:00); sources [1] [2] [3])

Scoring: the first to 7.5 points from up to 14 games

The match has at most 14 classical games. (regulations 4.1; sources [1] [2])
The first player to reach 7.5 points takes the match, and no further games are played. (regulations 4.4.1; sources [1] [2])
The earliest this can happen is game 8, on Thursday 3 December 2026; games 9 to 14 are played only if the match is still open. (our arithmetic from regulations 4.4.1 and the schedule (regulations 4.6.1; ticket site); sources [1] [2] [3])
If the score is level at 7–7 after 14 games, tie-breaks are played on Saturday 12 December 2026; their start time is not announced. (regulations 4.6.1 (tie-break if needed, time TBD); source [1])

Time control

120 minutes for the first 40 moves, then 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with 30 seconds added per move from move 41. (regulations 4.2.2; source [1])

The draw rule

The players cannot agree a draw before Black's 40th move. Before then, a draw by threefold repetition or stalemate can be claimed only through the Chief Arbiter or the Deputy Chief Arbiter. (regulations 4.3; sources [1] [2])

Arriving late

A player who reaches the playing area after the actual start time of the game forfeits that game. (regulations 4.2.3; source [1])

Colours: drawn at the Opening Ceremony

Colours are drawn at the Opening Ceremony, or at another special ceremony if FIDE decides so. The player with White in game 1 has White in every odd-numbered classical game. (regulations 4.9; source [1])
The Opening Ceremony is on Sunday 22 November 2026; its time is not announced. (regulations 4.6.1 (Opening Ceremony, time TBD); source [1])

Schedule rules and start time

No game may be postponed. (regulations 4.6.2; source [1])
The schedule can be changed only with the approval of the FIDE President. (regulations 4.6.3; source [1])
Times: every game starts at 15:00 Geneva time (14:00 UTC on every game day). Every game's start in your time zone. (regulations 4.6.1 (3:00 pm for every round); ticket site (Round 1 at 15:00); sources [1] [3])

Every game date: the full schedule.

Tie-breaks

Four games at 15 minutes + 10 seconds per move; if still level, two games at 10 minutes + 5 seconds; then two games at 3 minutes + 2 seconds; then single games at 3 minutes + 2 seconds until one has a decisive result. (regulations 4.4.2.2–4.4.2.7; source [1])
In the tie-breaks, a drawing of lots decides who starts with White before each of the first four stages; each further single game is played with the colours reversed. (regulations 4.4.2.2–4.4.2.7; source [1])
There is a 10-minute pause between all tie-break games, unless the Chief Arbiter decides otherwise. (regulations 4.4.2.9; source [1])

How the two players qualified, and the reserves

Gukesh D: Reigning World Champion: he won the title in Singapore in December 2024 against Ding Liren, 7.5–6.5. (regulations 2.1 (reigning World Champion); FIDE article of 14 September 2026 (Singapore, 7.5–6.5); sources [1] [2])
Javokhir Sindarov: Challenger: winner of the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026, held in Cyprus, where he scored 10 points out of 14, unbeaten. (regulations 2.1 (winner of the Candidates Tournament 2026); FIDE article of 14 September 2026 (Cyprus, 10/14, unbeaten); sources [1] [2])
Reserve 1: Anish Giri, the runner-up of the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026, replaces the champion or the challenger if either withdraws. (regulations 2.2; source [1])
Reserve 2: If a further replacement is needed, Fabiano Caruana, who finished third in the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026, is invited. (regulations 2.3; source [1])

Their openings in broadcast games: Gukesh's openings with White and Black · Sindarov's openings with White and Black.

More about the match

Sources and credits

We checked the facts on this page against these sources on 17 Oct 2026. A sentence marked "our arithmetic" is worked out by us from the facts it names.

Player data: names as published by FIDE in the sources above. To ask for a correction or removal, write to contact@chessopeningscores.com.