In this podcast, I break down the newly announced Total Chess World Championship Tour, officially approved by FIDE and organized by Norway Chess. We’ll explain the format (fast classical + rapid + blitz), the timeframe (pilot in 2026, full season 2027), the prize structure, how qualification will work, and what this means for the existing world championship ecosystem. Importantly — we also analyze how this could influence Magnus Carlsen’s possible return to world title contention under a format he might prefer. If you’re serious about chess’s future, this tour is your must-watch.