The city of Jerusalem is set to host one of the biggest chess events in Israeli history as the Jerusalem Masters 2025 kicks off from November 30 to December 3 at the Museum of Tolerance. With a record prize fund of $140,000, top global stars, and a theme of “Tolerance and Unity,” the event is already being hailed as a major milestone for Israeli chess.
Nepomniachtchi Leads a Star-Studded Field
The headline name this year is GM Ian Nepomniachtchi, the two-time World Chess Championship finalist and one of the strongest players of his generation. His participation has been widely praised, with Israel Chess Federation Chairman Zvika Barkai calling his arrival “a historic dimension to the event.”
Nepomniachtchi, 35, was born in Bryansk, Russia, to a Jewish family and rose through the ranks by winning multiple European youth titles. A two-time Olympiad gold medalist and finalist in the 2021 and 2023 World Championship matches, “Nepo” enters Jerusalem as the top seed with a 2762 FIDE rating.
He will be joined by a powerful lineup of international stars and Israel’s top grandmasters, including:
Initial Player List
| No. | Title | Player | Federation | Rating | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GM | Ian Nepomniachtchi | FID | 2762 | — |
| 2 | GM | Vladimir Fedoseev | SLO | 2740 | — |
| 3 | GM | Viswanathan Anand | IND | 2727 | — |
| 4 | GM | Arjun Erigaisi | IND | 2708 | Rishon Lezion |
| 5 | GM | Peter Svidler | FID | 2669 | Rishon Lezion |
| 6 | GM | Maxim Rodshtein | ISR | 2600 | Rishon Lezion |
| 7 | GM | Emil Sutovsky | ISR | 2586 | Ashdod |
| 8 | GM | Avital Boruchovsky | ISR | 2487 | Kfar Saba |
| 9 | GM | Ido Gorshtein | ISR | 2449 | Kfar Saba |
| 10 | GM | Yahli Sokolovsky | ISR | 2397 | Rishon Lezion |
| 11 | TBD | — | — | — | — |
| 12 | TBD | — | — | — | — |
The last two spots will go to the top finishers of the Jerusalem Open Rapid Championship (Nov. 26–27), which features 450 players from 35 countries.
The field includes legends like five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand, eight-time Russian Champion Peter Svidler, and rising Indian superstar Arjun Erigaisi, currently ranked fourth in the world.
Tournament Format and Rules
The Jerusalem Masters 2025 will feature an 11-round rapid round-robin using FIDE rapid rules (15 minutes + 5 seconds increment). The top four finishers will advance to the semifinals, followed by a final and a third-place playoff.
If knockout matches are tied, the players will proceed to 3+2 blitz games and, if needed, an Armageddon decider where Black advances in the event of a draw.
Prize Fund ($140,000 Total)
- 1st: $55,000
- 2nd: $35,000
- 3rd: $20,000
- 4th: $12,000
- 5th: $6,000
- 6th: $3,000
- 7th–12th: $1,500 each
Prizes are not shared and follow the final ranking after tiebreaks.
U.S. Time Zone Conversion
Rounds use Jerusalem local time (IST; UTC+2). Below is the converted schedule for U.S. Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific Time.
Jerusalem Masters 2025 – Round-Robin Schedule (Rounds 1–11)
| Round | Date | Jerusalem (IST) | ET | CT | MT | PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nov 30 | 15:00 | 08:00 | 07:00 | 06:00 | 05:00 |
| 2 | Nov 30 | 16:00 | 09:00 | 08:00 | 07:00 | 06:00 |
| 3 | Nov 30 | 17:00 | 10:00 | 09:00 | 08:00 | 07:00 |
| 4 | Dec 1 | 15:00 | 08:00 | 07:00 | 06:00 | 05:00 |
| 5 | Dec 1 | 16:00 | 09:00 | 08:00 | 07:00 | 06:00 |
| 6 | Dec 1 | 17:00 | 10:00 | 09:00 | 08:00 | 07:00 |
| 7 | Dec 1 | 18:00 | 11:00 | 10:00 | 09:00 | 08:00 |
| 8 | Dec 2 | 15:00 | 08:00 | 07:00 | 06:00 | 05:00 |
| 9 | Dec 2 | 16:00 | 09:00 | 08:00 | 07:00 | 06:00 |
| 10 | Dec 2 | 17:00 | 10:00 | 09:00 | 08:00 | 07:00 |
| 11 | Dec 2 | 18:00 | 11:00 | 10:00 | 09:00 | 08:00 |
Knockout Stage – December 3
| Stage | Jerusalem | ET | CT | MT | PT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semifinal Game 1 | 14:00 | 07:00 | 06:00 | 05:00 | 04:00 |
| Semifinal Game 2 | 15:00 | 08:00 | 07:00 | 06:00 | 05:00 |
| Finals & 3rd-Place Game 1 | 17:00 | 10:00 | 09:00 | 08:00 | 07:00 |
| Finals & 3rd-Place Game 2 | 18:00 | 11:00 | 10:00 | 09:00 | 08:00 |
Organizers and Safety Measures
The tournament is jointly organized by the Israel Chess Federation, the Ministry of Culture and Sports, and the Jerusalem Municipality. Participant safety will follow the guidelines of the Ministry of Sports, and all players must attend press conferences and interviews.
Meals, accommodation, and travel reimbursements (with prior approval) are covered for players.
A Look Back: Svidler’s Triumph in 2024
Last year’s Jerusalem Masters ended with GM Peter Svidler lifting the trophy after scoring 6.5/9 in a strong field. Dutch GM Jorden van Foreest and Russian GM Daniil Dubov shared second place on 5.5 points, with tiebreaks separating them.
Svidler’s victory cemented his status as a fan favorite in Israel—making his return this year even more anticipated.
A New Era for Israeli Chess
With global superstars, a massive prize pool, and a high-profile venue, the Jerusalem Masters 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most significant chess events ever held in the country. For Israeli players, the tournament is not only an opportunity for top-level competition but also a chance to shine on home soil.
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