Variants Community Series: All The Information
The Variants Community Series (VCS) is a series of events for streamers and the chess variants community. Starting September 7 at 12 p.m. ET/18:00 CEST/21:30 IST, the series will feature a different variant every two months and $3,750 plus 610 Twitch/Kick subs as the prize fund per cycle.
Current Variant
This cycle's variant is King of the Hill. In this variant, every rule is the same, with one exception: a player can also win by getting their king to one of the four central squares (d4, e4, d5, or e5). Click here to read more about this variant.
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 CEST/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
The first VCS cycle starts on September 7 and features the King of the Hill variant.
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.
- The winner and top streamer of each arena 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)
