As Magnus Carlsen and 23 others await, Total Chess chief defends fast classical stage

Total Chess chief Kjell Madland has defended the pilot tournament’s fast classical-only group stage, insisting all 24 players will compete across formats until the final day. The Budapest event opens with a nine-round blitz tournament, followed by a fast classical group stage that decides the four semi-finalists, with all three formats used in the knockouts. Madland said the format aims to modernise chess and attract wider audiences.