Sanity from FIDE regarding faster classical time controls – AT LAST!!!
Of course we are still stuck with increments. Best way yet to keep entries down compared with population growth.
So still no round time schedules.
So still no media (who wants to watch board 37 playing on in a bishop and pawn ending for an hour?)
But, still, progress!
AI Overview
The FIDE General Assembly adopted a resolution based on a proposal jointly pushed by chess federations including Norway, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, and the Faroe Islands to introduce shorter classical time controls that still count toward standard ratings and title norms.
Key Elements of the Shorter Time Control Proposals
• 60+30 Standard Control: FIDE’s Council proposed making 60 minutes plus a 30-second increment (60+30) a guaranteed classical time control that any organizer can use automatically without special permission from the Qualification Commission.
• 45+30 Fast Classic Control: Shorter 45 minutes plus a 30-second increment (45+30) time controls—pioneered and popularized by events like Norway Chess in partnership with FIDE for formats like the Total Chess World Championship Tour—are being integrated.
• Automatic Approval Categories: The FIDE Council supports automatically permitting 45+30 for official FIDE Circuit tournaments and tournaments where no participant is rated 2400 or higher.
• Broader Icelandic/Nordic Proposals: The original Nordic/Icelandic-backed motion pushed for making 45+30 a standard classical time control universally and allowing up to three games per day, though FIDE has taken a more cautious approach due to title integrity.
Safeguards and Rules
Rule / Restriction Details
Rounds Per Day Retains a limit of two games per day for events counting toward official titles and norms.
Norm Cap Players can count a maximum of one title norm earned in a tournament using shortened classical time controls.
Armageddon Tiebreaks Many of these shorter-format implementations (like Norway Chess) pair draws with an Armageddon game for tournament scoring excitement, while keeping classical games rated separately.
Read more on the FIDE Official Announcement or track developments via the Norway Chess Concept page.
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