Chess 960 (Fischer Random) randomises the back rank from one of 960 legal starting positions, eliminating opening theory. The European championship is held in classical Chess 960 — 90+30, full classical time, but with a new random starting position drawn before each game (or sometimes once per round and used for both colours).
Status
Not yet FIDE-rated for classical purposes but counts toward the ECU’s separate Chess 960 rating list. Field expected to include several established European grandmasters experimenting with the format — see our Freestyle WC 2026 coverage for the format’s broader rise.