In collaboration with Chess.com and Freestyle Chess, an exciting new tournament series is coming to the chess world: the 2026 Freestyle Friday Championship. It is an important step in reinforcing the rise of the Freestyle Chess format, which pushes the boundaries of traditional chess and highlights creativity and adaptability. The goal is to identify the best Freestyle players through a year-long qualifying series and offer them a direct path to the top.

This season-long race will award direct qualification to the 2027 FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship and the 2027 FIDE Women's Freestyle Chess World Championship. For players, this means not only a prestigious title but also a chance to prove themselves on the world stage and make history. Points collected through various online and possibly offline events held throughout the year will be decisive in the championship race. This format gives players of every level a chance to showcase themselves and compete for the top prize.

Freestyle Chess has gained major momentum in recent years, especially with the support of names such as world champion Magnus Carlsen. As a response to the growing monotony caused by increasingly deep opening memorization in traditional chess, this format offers the excitement of starting every game from scratch. Randomly determined starting positions force players to rely on immediate strategy and tactical intelligence rather than memorization. That creates a far more dynamic and compelling experience for both players and spectators. This championship will help shape the future of Freestyle Chess and create opportunities for new talents to shine.

This visionary partnership between Chess.com and Freestyle Chess could be a major turning point in the evolution of the sport. Alongside traditional tournaments, the growth of innovative formats like this brings more variety and excitement to the chess world. The 2026 Freestyle Friday Championship is more than just a tournament series; it is an investment in the future of chess. Chess fans will follow this year-long battle with great interest and eagerly await seeing who earns a direct ticket to the 2027 World Championship.