Carlsen, Nakamura, Caruana and Gukesh set to clash at Clutch Chess Champions Showdown 2025 starting today
Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana and D Gukesh will face each other in Rapid format at Clutch Chess Champions Showdown 2025. On day 1, each win is worth 1 point and $1000, for day 2, each win is worth 2 points and $2000, a win on day 3 will fetch 3 points and $3000. Total prize fund is US$ 412000. Winner will get $12000, runner-up $90000, second runner-up $70000 and fourth $60000. There will be an additional $72000 bonus. The money from all drawn games accumulates each day into a pool (Champion's Jackpot) that shall be added to the overall winner’s prize. Three rounds, six games will be played today starting from 12 p.m. local time, 10:30 p.m. IST. Photo: Lennart Ootes / Saint Louis Chess Club
Score and prize increases by the day
Clutch Chess Champions Showdown 2025 will feature World no.1 - GM Magnus Carlsen (NOR), World no.2 - GM Hikaru Nakamura (USA), World no.3 - GM Fabiano Caruana (USA) and World Champion - GM D Gukesh. It is a 9-round 18-game three double round-robin tournament.
With $412000 in prize money, including daily win bonuses and a Champion’s Jackpot, the stakes have never been higher. The event’s 18-game rapid double round-robin format (10 minutes plus a 5-second increment) will feature escalating point values each day: Wins are worth 1 point on Day 1, 2 points on Day 2, and 3 points on Day 3…a comeback-friendly format that cultivates increased tension and fan excitement into the very last round.
“Having these four giants of the game here in Saint Louis shows the city’s importance on the world chess stage,” said GM Yasser Seirawan, event commentator and four-time U.S. Champion.
Clutch Chess is a unique type of chess tournament format, the brainchild of Grandmaster Maurice Ashley where the stakes build round by round with ever-increasing points and dollar prizes available each day. Unlike traditional chess tournaments, in Clutch Chess no lead is ever safe and every single game has meaning. Since point values for wins increase each day, players who start off slowly can stage dramatic comebacks all the way to the very end.
On Day 1, each win is worth 1 point and $1000. For Day 2, each win is worth 2 points and $2000. And for day 3, each win is worth 3 points and $3000.
In Clutch Chess: Champions Showdown, the prize fund will total $412000 with each game played at a Rapid time control of 10 minutes + 5 seconds. The four prizes will be split first to fourth at $120K, $90K, $70K and $60K. There will be an additional $72000 in bonus prizes. The prize from each drawn game will roll over into a Champion’s Jackpot, which only the winner of the tournament will receive. In case of a tie for first, there will be a playoff to determine the winner.
Four titans of the game. One city. High drama. Every move counts.
Whether it’s a match or a tournament, the Clutch Chess format guarantees that each and every game has meaning all the way to the finish line.
Schedule
Three rounds will be played each day on 27th, 28th and 29th October from 12 p.m. local time, 10:30 p.m. IST.
