I really do miss the old days of the cycle determining the challenger then having a 24 game match against the world champion. I think the World Champion really ought to be decided in a match of reasonable length, world champ against the worthy challenger.
or, as ric flair would say, “to be the man,you got to beat the man.”
Rule changes in the middle of a cycle are not good. I think that FIDE should complete its current cycle as planned, with or without Carlsen. I would also like to see FIDE announce a better cycle to be used in the future. In the linked article Carlsen presents some suggestions for the world championship as a top player (8-10 player single championship tournament). Here is what I would like to see as a spectator:
World Championship Match every year.
The world championship is good for chess. People follow the games and it increases interest. The match should span Christmas, New Year’s, and the week after. These are holiday times in many parts of the world; people will have more time to take interest and are more likely to bring out their chess boards when relatives are in town. This would also be at a good time of year for scholastic chess, generating more interest before students head into their own championship season.
Reigning World Champion defends the title
This isn’t seen in many competitive championships, but it is part of chess history. Carlsen’s argument that the champion should not receive an automatic ticket to the final to be held four years later has merit, but with an annual championship match this tradition can return.
Sixteen Game World Championship Match
Twenty-four games make for too long of a match for this spectator. Twelve was viewed as too short by many. One game for each pawn in the starting position would make for a match of appropriate length to determine the world champion.
Eight Game Challenger Match in September
To be played between the highest-rated player as of March 31st and the winner of a Candidates Tournament held in May.
Candidates Tournament in May
Eight player double round robin with the loser of the previous year’s championship match, the 2nd place finisher of the previous year’s Candidates Tournament, the winners of two of the most prestigious open tournaments, the winners of two prestigious closed events, and two players not otherwise qualified based on rating as of March 31st.
By including two open tournaments as qualifiers, any player has a road to the championship. A rising star like Fischer would not need for someone like Pal Benko to give up his spot as a candidate in order to get the new talent into the cycle. At the same time, there is plenty of bias to ensure that the Candidates Tournament is not all “no-names”, but is full of players who have earned their places as the world’s elite grandmasters.