[HIGHLIGHTS] Along with everyone else: FIDE has deprived the vice-champion of the privilege of automatically qualifying for the Candidates Tournament

The International Chess Federation has changed the qualification rules for the Candidates Tournament. Now a grandmaster who loses in a match for the world chess crown will not automatically be included in the list of candidates for the title.

The vice-champion will now need to qualify along with the rest. Ian Nepomniachtchi is not in the best shape yet, since he took only eighth place at the last prestigious tournament in the Netherlands. The next FIDE innovations will come into force only in 2026.