Variants Community Series: All The Information

The Variants Community Series (VCS) is a series of events for streamers and the chess variants community. The events happen every Thursday at 12 p.m. ET/18:00 CET/21:30 IST. The series features a different variant every two months and $3,750 plus 610 Twitch/Kick subs as the prize fund per cycle.

• Current Variant
• Players
• Schedule
• Format
• Prizes
• Results
• Regulations

Current Variant

This cycle's variant is Atomic Chess. In this variant, captures cause an explosion that destroys every piece around it. Click here to read more about this variant.

UPDATE on VCS Atomic: From Arena #2 the time control will be 3+0 (instead of 3+2) 

Players

The VCS is open to all Chess.com members! Join Chess.com's official Variants club to stay in the loop and participate in the event's arenas.

Creators are also welcome to play and encouraged to stream their participation in all the events. However, two streamer arenas will occur per variant cycle where only streamers can win prizes. 

Schedule

The VCS happens in two-month cycles, with every cycle featuring one variant. Cycles comprise six arenas and a Championship, with rest weeks between cycles. 

Events happen every Thursday starting at 12 p.m. ET/18:00 CET/21:30 IST, in the following order:

• Week 1: Community Arena
• Week 2: Community Arena
• Week 3: Streamer Arena
• Week 4: Community Arena
• Week 5: Community Arena
• Week 6: Streamer Arena
• Week 7: Championship

Format

Community Arenas

• Weeks 1, 2, 4, and 5.
• Two-hour score-based arenas.
• Games are in the 3+2 time control.
• Members must have played at least five games in the arena's specific variant to participate.
• The winner of each arena qualifies for the Championship.
• If a player has already qualified for the Championship through a previous arena, the next player in the standings is eligible to play in the Championship.

Streamer Arenas

• Weeks 3 and 6.
• All Chess.com members are eligible to play, but only streamers can earn prizes.
• Two-hour score-based arenas.
• Games are in the 3+2 time control.
• Members must have played at least five games in the arena's specific variant to participate.
• Two players from each arena qualify for the Championship: the top streamer and the top player.
• If the top player is a streamer, the next best player qualifies for the Championship.
• If a streamer has already qualified for the Championship through a previous arena, the next streamer in the standings is eligible to play in the Championship.

Championship

• Week 7.
• Players who qualified from the arenas play a single-elimination knockout bracket.
• The time control is 3+2.
• Matches consist of four games.
• If a match ends in a tie, players contest two more 3+2 games.
• If still tied, players contest two 1+2 games.
• If still tied, players keep contesting two 1+2 game matches until there's a winner.

Prizes

The VCS has $3,750 and 610 Twitch/Kick subs as the prize fund per cycle.

Streamer Arena (305 Twitch/Kick subs per event)

• 1st: 70
• 2nd: 50
• 3rd: 40
• 4th: 30
• 5th: 20
• 6th-10th: 15
• U2000: 10
• U1600: 10
• U1200: 10
• Staff Choice: 10

Championship ($3,750)

• 1st: $1,000
• 2nd: $750
• 3rd: $500 (x2)
• 5th: $250 (x4)

Results

You can check out the VCS results here.