Chess: Magnus Carlsen returns for Budapest battle before Sindarov targets classical crown

The Guardian · Leonard Barden · 2026-11-06 08:00 UTC

The Norwegian, 35, has set up a training camp in Spain to prepare for the Budapest Total Chess pilot

This will be an important month for global chess, with the Total World Championship pilot, combining fast classical, rapid and blitz segments due in Budapest from 10-20 November. This will be followed by the Gukesh Dommaraju v Javokhir Sindarov Salesforce Fide World Championship match in Geneva between 24 November and 12 December, featuring 14 games of classical chess followed, if needed, by rapid and blitz tiebreaks.

The traditional London Classic at the Novotel West in Hammersmith will also start on 24 November and will continue until 7 December.

The world No 1, Magnus Carlsen, will be the top seed and favourite for Total Chess and the Norwegian, 35, will be taking it more seriously than any event since he defended his world classical title in 2021.

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