 "Clutch Chess Champions Showdown 2025 is the highest-rated chess tournament of the year. Image: Saint Louis Chess Club")
World champion D Gukesh is set to face off against world No 1 Magnus Carlsen, world No 2 Hikaru Nakamura and World No 3 Fabiano Caruana in Clutch Chess Champions Showdown 2025, the highest-rated chess tournament of the year.
The Clutch Chess Champions Showdown 2025 will take place from Monday (27 October) to Wednesday (29 October) at the Saint Louis Chess Club in Missouri, United States.
Clutch Chess Champions Showdown 2025: All you need to know
Here’s everything you need to know about the tournament.
Clutch Chess Champions Showdown 2025: Format
The Clutch Chess Champions Showdown 2025 will be played in the rapid format. It will consist of nine rounds and 18 games, comprising three double round-robins played with a rapid time control (10 minutes plus a 5-second increment).
Another interesting thing about the event is that it will have escalating point value each. The wins would be worth 1 point on Day 1, two points on Day 2 and three points on Day 3.
Clutch Chess Champions Showdown 2025: Prize money
The Clutch Chess Champions Showdown 2025 has a total prize money fund of $412,000. The prize money would be distributed on the basis of the player’s position at the end of the competition. The winner would get $120,000, while the second and third position holders would take $90,000 and $70,000, respectively. The player finishing last would get $60,000.
Besides assured prize money, players would also be able to clinch bonus prizes. Each win on Day 1 will fetch $1,000. The victories on Day 2 are worth $2,000 and $3,000 on Day 3.
The prize money for each drawn game will be put in a Champions’ Jackpot, which will be given to the tournament winner.
Clutch Chess Champions Showdown 2025: Schedule
27 October: Rounds 1-3 (10:30 PM IST)
28 October: Rounds 4-6 (10:30 PM IST)
29 October: Rounds 7-9 (10:30 PM IST plus tiebreaks if required.
How to watch and live stream Clutch Chess Champions Showdown 2025 in India?
The Clutch Chess Champions Showdown 2025 will not be broadcast in India, but the live streaming will be available on St. Louis Chess Club’s official YouTube channel.