6 Reasons You Can't Miss Titled Tuesday Today

The sixth Titled Tuesday tournament in Chess.com history is set to kick off today at 2 p.m. EST (11 a.m. PST, 7 p.m. GMT), and it will feature one of the strongest fields ever.

With a prize pool that has ballooned to $2,500 (up from the normal $1,000), this Titled Tuesday will surely draw the attention of some of the world's best players.

Dozens of strong grandmasters have already played in the Titled Tuesday series, and one super-GM will make his debut in the tournament.

Let us know what you're looking forward to in the comments or on Facebook, and tell us if you plan to watch the event in the official Chess.com survey. 

Don't forget to log on to live chess today to watch. 

Here are six reasons not to miss the Titled Tuesday event.

1. Hikaru Nakamura is playing.

That's right: the best chess player in the United States will throw his hat into the ring for this Titled Tuesday.

Considered by many chess fans to be the greatest online player of all time, Nakamura has to be the clear favorite to win the blitz tournament. 

Will Nakamura be able to take down the biggest Titled Tuesday prize ever? You'll find out on Tuesday.  

Speaking of the prizes...

2. The prize pool is the highest ever.

image via tvtome

The specially boosted prize pool (announced at last month's event) will no doubt attract many strong players in possibly the toughest tournament in Chess.com history.

With the total prize pool at $2,500, the stakes have never been bigger. Watch high drama unfold as the masters slug it out for serious cash. 

The prize fund will be allocated as follows:

• First place: $1,000
• Second place: $500
• Third place: $250
• Fourth place: $150
• Fifth through 10th place: $100 each

Tiebreak score will NOT be used to allot prizes. All tied tournament scores will split the appropriate prize. 

3. IM Daniel Rensch will stream his tournament live.

Ever wonder what it's like to be a titled player in a strong chess tournament? Tune in to Chess.com/TV during the Titled Tuesday event to watch IM Daniel Rensch live-stream video while he plays the tournament. 

Get inside Danny's head and learn what a strong international master is thinking as he plays every move against titled opposition. 

4. Watch hundreds of titled games.

Chess audiences usually get excited when a single titled master is playing. Now imagine hundreds of games in a few hours, all contested between two titled players.

Grandmaster vs. grandmaster will happen so often, you’ll have your pick of which games to follow.

No matter which games you choose to watch, you can be sure you're getting world-class chess.

5. Enjoy nerve-racking, down-to-the-wire action.

Many competitive events are over long before the clock runs out or the final whistle blows. It’s practically guaranteed, on the other hand, that Titled Tuesday will brew drama right into the final round.

With a such a large and strong expected field, it's easy to predict that most of the prizes will be decided in the last few rounds. And with the clock ticking in short blitz games, anything can happen, and the only guarantee is lots of thrilling chess.

6. Appreciate chess culture from around the world.

Chess is truly a global game, and Titled Tuesdays reflect that well.

If you log on to watch, take a look at the variety of national flags at the virtual chessboards, and the different languages in the tournament chat. 

Chess masters from all corners of the globe will participate in Titled Tuesday, united by their competitive drive and common love of the game.

Please join us at 2 p.m. EST (7 p.m. GMT) for Titled Tuesday, and let us know what you think about the event in the comment section below.