Chess.com Classic 2025 LIVE
The 2025 Chess.com Classic is the last online event of this year’s Champions Chess Tour (CCT). 2025 Chess.com Classic takes place May 18-23 and will feature some of the strongest players in the world. At stake are $150,000 and the last CCT Points, which will, in turn, determine the nine remaining players qualifying for the $1.5 million 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC) via the CCT.
Invited players: Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Gukesh D, Ding Liren, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Wei Yi
Live games will be daily on Chessdom, while additional news can be found in the Chessdom Newsletter – you can sign up for free in the form below
The form can be filled in the actual website url.The Chess.com Classic kicks off with the qualifiers for non-grandmasters on May 18 at 11 a.m. ET / 17:00 CEST / 8:30 p.m. IST. The Play-In starts a day later at the same time, with the Playoffs taking place from May 20 to May 23.
More: Nakamura vs Leela with knight odds / Carlsen wins Grenke with 9,0/9 / Replay Ding Liren vs Gukesh / Magnus Carlsen Clinches Paris Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Title in Thrilling Final Against Hikaru Nakamura
Chess.com Classic Qualifier (May 18)
Starts: 8:00 PT / 11:00 ET / 17:00 CEST
Non-grandmaster titled players compete in a Swiss, with the top three making it to the Play-In.
- Open to all non-grandmaster titled players
- Players contest a nine-round Swiss
- Time control: 10+0
- The top three players are eligible to compete in the Play-In
Chess.com Classic Play-in (May 19)
Starts: 8:00 PT / 11:00 ET / 17:00 CEST
Qualified players join grandmasters to compete in two phases, Swiss and Match Play. The winner of the Swiss goes straight to the Playoffs. Players ranked second through 15th go to Match Play, with the winners reaching the Playoffs.
- Open to all grandmasters and the top three players from the Qualifier
- Time control: 10+0
- Players compete in a nine-round Swiss
- The top player from the Swiss goes straight to the Playoffs and selects their bracket position
- Players ranked second through 15th advance to Match Play
- Players ranked second through eighth choose their opponents
- The 14 players who compete in the Match Play phase contest a two-game match
- The winner of each Match Play match moves on to the Playoffs
Chess.com Classic Playoffs (May 20 – 23)
Starts: 8:15 PT / 11:15 ET / 17:15 CET
Eight invited players join the eight players who made it to the Playoffs to compete for top prize money and CCT Points, which may grant them a spot at the Esports World Cup.
- Eight invited players join the eight players who made it to the Playoffs
- Players contest a double-elimination bracket
- Winners Bracket matches consist of four games
- Losers Bracket matches consist of two games
- Grand Final match consists of four games
- Grand Final Reset, if necessary, consists of two games
- If the match ends in a tie, a bidding armageddon game with a base time of 10 minutes decides the winner
Divisions Cash Prizes
| Place | Points | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 100 | $25,000 |
| 2nd | 80 | $20,000 |
| 3rd | 65 | $15,000 |
| 4th | 50 | $10,000 |
| 5th (x2) | 40 | $8,000 |
| 7th (x2) | 30 | $7,000 |
| 9th (x4) | 20 | $6,000 |
| 13th (x4) | 10 | $5,000 |