Grand Chess Tour Celebrates a Decade with Top Talent

SAINT LOUIS, MO – The Grand Chess Tour (GCT) is thrilled to announce its 10th anniversary in 2025, promising an even more electrifying season of premier chess. Starting this April, the tour will showcase the world’s elite players competing for a boosted prize pool of $1.6 million. Adding to the excitement, the GCT Finals are set to return, marking their debut in South America in São Paulo, Brazil.

“The 10th anniversary of the Grand Chess Tour marks a decade of excellence, bringing together the planet’s strongest chess minds in a battle of skill, strategy, and fortitude. This year’s lineup is among the most competitive we’ve ever assembled, reaffirming the tour’s position at the zenith of elite chess,” stated chess legend and former World Champion Garry Kasparov. “This milestone would not be achievable without the steadfast backing of the Saint Louis Chess Club and the Superbet Foundation, whose commitment to the game persistently elevates chess on the global stage.”

Players confirmed for the full 2025 tour are:

World champion Gukesh Dommaraju | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Invitations for the full 2025 GCT edition were extended to nine players. Three players earned their spots by ranking in the top 3 of the 2024 Grand Chess Tour. The remaining invites were based on factors such as URS rating, FIDE rating, competitive spirit, and sportsmanship.

The full tour participants will compete in both classical and two out of three rapid and blitz tournaments. Wildcard entrants for the rapid and blitz events in Warsaw, Zagreb, and Saint Louis will be announced later.

This season, participants will vie for a total prize fund of $1.6 million, increased from previous years. Each classical tournament offers a $350,000 prize fund, while each rapid and blitz event features $175,000. The top four players from the five regular season tournaments will advance to the GCT Finals knockout matches, competing for an additional $350,000.

Alireza Firouzja won the 2024 edition of the GCT | Photo: Lennart Ootes

The prize funds are generously provided by the 2025 GCT major sponsors, Superbet Foundation and The Saint Louis Chess Club, both non-profit organizations dedicated to chess education and expanding the game globally.

Augusta Dragic, President of the Superbet Foundation, commented, “The Superbet Foundation is proud to again support the Grand Chess Tour, reinforcing our dedication to promoting chess worldwide. Chess embodies strategy, discipline, and resilience – values we deeply cherish. Last year, over 20 million fans followed the tour, and we aim to inspire even more this year. By backing world-class competitions like the GCT, we strive to broaden chess access and highlight its power to unite and inspire people from all walks of life.”

Tony Rich, Technical Director of the Saint Louis Chess Club, added, “Saint Louis has solidified its status as a global chess hub, and we are honored to once again host two GCT legs. As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of this esteemed event, we acknowledge its profound impact not just on elite chess but also on the wider chess community. We eagerly anticipate welcoming the world’s best players to Saint Louis later this year and hope to continue inspiring the next generation of chess enthusiasts.”

This year, the GCT welcomes former US Champion, GM Alex Onischuk, as GCT Deputy Executive Director, a crucial role in expanding the tour’s reach. He will be joined by Chief Arbiter Chris Bird and Deputy Chief Arbiter Ignatius Leong, further enhancing the tour’s expertise and integrity.

Michael Khodarkovsky, Executive Director of the GCT, stated, “The GCT is continuously evolving, and we are delighted to welcome Grandmaster Alex Onischuk as GCT Deputy Executive Director. Alex’s leadership and experience will be invaluable in amplifying the tour’s global influence and will benefit both players and fans. This year also marks a thrilling milestone with the return of the GCT Finals, making history with our first South American stop before a spectacular grand finale in São Paulo, Brazil. This underscores the Grand Chess Tour’s growth and our commitment to delivering world-class chess to new audiences worldwide.”

2025 Tour Schedule:

• Superbet Rapid & Blitz Poland: April 24-May 1, 2025 in Warsaw, Poland
• Superbet Chess Classic Romania: May 5-17, 2025 in Bucharest, Romania
• SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz Croatia: June 30-July 7, 2025 in Zagreb, Croatia
• Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz: August 9-16, 2025 in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
• Sinquefield Cup: August 16-29, 2025 in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
• GCT Finals: September 26-October 4, 2025 in São Paulo, Brazil

For more details, visit grandchesstour.org.

About Grand Chess Tour

The Grand Chess Tour is a series of international chess events, renowned for showcasing the highest organizational standards for the world’s leading players. Inspired by chess legend Garry Kasparov, the tour aims to promote chess globally. For more information, please visit grandchesstour.org.

About Superbet Foundation

The Superbet Foundation is a non-profit organization managing the Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives of the Superbet Group. It focuses on supporting advancements in health, education, and sports, particularly promoting chess and its benefits across communities.

About Saint Louis Chess Club

The Saint Louis Chess Club is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to making chess a vital community asset. It offers a venue for tournaments and casual play, chess improvement classes, beginner lessons, and lectures. Recognizing chess’s cognitive and behavioral advantages, the club supports chess programs in schools and encourages new program development. For more information, visit saintlouischessclub.org.