The chess world turns its eyes to St. Louis today as four of the game’s biggest names—World Champion D. Gukesh, World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, No. 2 Hikaru Nakamura, and No. 3 Fabiano Caruana—face off in the 2025 Clutch Chess: Champions Showdown, a $412,000 rapid event hosted at the newly expanded Saint Louis Chess Club.
The three-day tournament runs October 27–29, featuring 18 games in a rapid double round-robin format (10 minutes plus a 5-second increment). Play begins each day at 12:00 PM CDT (10:00 AM PT). With escalating point values and daily cash bonuses, the event’s comeback-friendly format is designed to keep tension alive until the very last round.
Each win on Day 1 is worth one point and $1,000. On Day 2, victories bring two points and $2,000, and on Day 3, three points and $3,000. Any prize from a drawn game will roll over into the “Champion’s Jackpot,” which goes exclusively to the tournament winner.
“It’s the ultimate test of both nerves and consistency,” said Grandmaster Yasser Seirawan, four-time U.S. Champion and event commentator. “Having these four giants of the game here in Saint Louis shows the city’s importance on the world chess stage.”
Record-High Field
The Champions Showdown is being billed as the highest-rated tournament of the year. World Champion D. Gukesh, who just led his Super Chess team to victory in the European Club Cup, barely had time to rest before flying from Europe to Missouri for this clash. The 19-year-old prodigy will face the top three ranked players in the world over the next three days.
Magnus Carlsen, returning to St. Louis for the first time since withdrawing from the 2022 Sinquefield Cup, resumes competitive play after a short break to celebrate becoming a father. Despite limited recent appearances, the Norwegian remains the favorite when it comes to faster formats.
Hikaru Nakamura, meanwhile, continues his push to complete the number of rated games required to qualify for the next Candidates Tournament. Known for his sharp tactical instincts and speed, he thrives in rapid time controls.
Fabiano Caruana, fresh off his fifth U.S. Championship title, enters in top form and will be eager to carry that momentum into this event, hosted in a city where he has repeatedly performed well.
A Format That Rewards Clutch Performance
The Clutch Chess concept was created by Grandmaster Maurice Ashley to amplify tension and reward high-pressure performance. With stakes and point values increasing each day, even a slow start can turn into a dramatic comeback.
The total prize pool of $412,000 will be divided among the four players:
- 1st place: $120,000
- 2nd place: $90,000
- 3rd place: $70,000
- 4th place: $60,000
An additional $72,000 in bonus prizes will be distributed for daily wins and clutch performances. If the tournament ends in a tie, a playoff will decide the winner.
A New Era for St. Louis Chess
The 2025 Champions Showdown also marks the unveiling of the Saint Louis Chess Club’s newly expanded world-class facility—a modern venue designed to host top-tier international events and reinforce the city’s reputation as the capital of American chess.
“Whether it’s a match or a tournament, the Clutch Chess format guarantees that every single game matters,” Ashley said. “It’s about who can deliver when the pressure is highest.”
Fans can watch the action live on the Saint Louis Chess Club’s YouTube channel, beginning at 12:00 PM CDT (10:00 AM PT) each day from October 27–29.
Watch the 2025 Clutch Chess: Champions Showdown live here
I’m Xuan Binh, the founder of Attacking Chess, and the Deputy Head of Communications at the Vietnam Chess Federation (VCF). My chess.com and lichess rating is above 2300, in both blitz and bullet. Follow me on Twitter (X).
