The main changes for the 2025 edition include an updated distribution of continental places based on the 2024 ranking.
FIDE has updated the qualification quotas for the Chess World Cup 2025 and the Women’s World Cupone of the world’s most important chess events alongside the Olympiads and World Championships. Pavel Tregubov, Secretary of the FIDE Global Strategy Commission:
The World Cup represents a flagship event for FIDE, and with each cycle we carefully consider changes and adjustments. The final distribution of continental places was determined after the ECU and ACC made use of their rights (described in the regulations: World Cup, Art 2.1.VII; Women’s World Cup, Art 2.1.VI) and transferred the number of places from the Olympiads to their continental events.
It should be noted that in the open section of the Olympiads, only 80 teams will obtain Olympic places for their federations, the number of places having been reduced accordingly. In particular, Europe will have 11 fewer Olympic places, and America 9 fewer. In the women’s section of the Olympiad, 35 teams instead of 50 will be awarded Olympic places.
For the World Cup, the number of players eligible to qualify remains the same (206), but the distribution of places has changed, reflecting the new rankings from January 2024.
Africa now has three places, the Americas 21, Europe 41 and Asia 35. FIDE President appointments have been increased from three to four.
For the Women’s World Cupthe distribution of continental places has been adjusted on the basis of the updated ranking lists. The number of places has been slightly modified: Europe will now have 21 places and Asia 20. In addition, the nominations for the FIDE President have been increased from one to two.
Final distribution of qualification places for continental tournaments:
The qualification rules can be consulted here :