Total Chess World Championship Tour Pilot opens in Budapest, Hungary

Hans Moke Niemann (L) of the United States competes against Magnus Carlsen of Norway in the seventh round on the opening day of the Total Chess World Championship Tour Pilot in Budapest, Hungary, Nov. 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Hu Zhixuan)

Alireza Firouzja of France competes in a blitz game on the opening day of the Total Chess World Championship Tour Pilot in Budapest, Hungary, Nov. 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Hu Zhixuan)

Anish Giri of the Netherlands competes in a blitz game on the opening day of the Total Chess World Championship Tour Pilot in Budapest, Hungary, Nov. 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Hu Zhixuan)

Players compete during a blitz game on the opening day of the Total Chess World Championship Tour Pilot in Budapest, Hungary, Nov. 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Hu Zhixuan)

Magnus Carlsen of Norway competes in a blitz game on the opening day of the Total Chess World Championship Tour Pilot in Budapest, Hungary, Nov. 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Hu Zhixuan)

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France competes in a blitz game on the opening day of the Total Chess World Championship Tour Pilot in Budapest, Hungary, Nov. 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Hu Zhixuan)

Bibisara Assaubayeva of Kazakhstan competes in a blitz game on the opening day of the Total Chess World Championship Tour Pilot in Budapest, Hungary, Nov. 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Hu Zhixuan)

Ian Nepomniachtchi, participating under the FIDE flag, competes in a blitz game on the opening day of the Total Chess World Championship Tour Pilot in Budapest, Hungary, Nov. 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Hu Zhixuan)

Richard Rapport (L) of Hungary competes against Fabiano Caruana of the United States in the first round on the opening day of the Total Chess World Championship Tour Pilot in Budapest, Hungary, Nov. 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Hu Zhixuan)

Levon Aronian of the United States competes in a blitz game on the opening day of the Total Chess World Championship Tour Pilot in Budapest, Hungary, Nov. 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Hu Zhixuan)

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan competes in a blitz game on the opening day of the Total Chess World Championship Tour Pilot in Budapest, Hungary, Nov. 10, 2026. (Xinhua/Hu Zhixuan)