2025 Chess.com Duck Chess Championship: Official Discussion Thread - Chess Forums

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The 2025 Duck Chess Championship is the next installment of this year's Chess.com Community Championships, taking place September 4-5, featuring a $2,500 prize fund, and a duck.

Duck Chess is one of the newest variants on Chess.com. It went viral in 2023, quickly winning over the hearts of creators like IMs Levy Rozman, Eric Rosen, WFM Anna Cramling, and even GM Hikaru Nakamura.

In Duck Chess, a rubber duck is placed on the chessboard and blocks the square it's on, with each player moving the duck on their turn. This added element adds a whole new layer of complexity to the game, enabling new types of tactics—or "quacktics" for Duck Chess fanatics.

The event is open to all players and features eight qualifier arenas, all taking place September 4. Each arena lasts 75 minutes and features a 3+2 time control.

The winner of each arena will qualify for the Final on September 5, a double-elimination knockout tournament with a 3+2 time control. From there, players will quack their way towards becoming the 2025 Chess.com Duck Chess Champion.

As usual, we may require participants to join a video call for fair play checks. Players who join the fair play call must set up two cameras from different angles in the room. Non-compliance will result in a player's removal from the event.

Qualifiers Format (show details)

There are eight qualifiers
Each qualifier is a 75-minute arena
Time control: 3+2
The winner of each arena advances to the Final
Players who have already qualified for the Final cannot play in subsequent qualifiers

Knockout Final Format (show details)

The eight players who qualified play a double-elimination knockout
Time control: 3+2
Each match consists of four games
If the match ends in a tie, players keep contesting 1+2 games until a decisive game determines the winner

Quack (quack)

Quack

Watch the live Final broadcast on our ChessTV, Twitch and YouTube channels.
Find all relevant info on our Events Page. Below a quick summary.

Variant - Duck Chess
Prize Fund - $2,500
Qualifiers Format - 75 min arenas, 3+2 blitz, rated. Winner advances to Knockout Final
Qualifiers Date - September 4, eight total arenas. Full Schedule
Finals Format - 8 Players double-elimination knockout, 3+2 blitz, rated. Matches are Best of 4, if tied players contest 1+2 games until there's a winner.
Finals Date & Time - September 5 at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET / 19:00 CEST
Location - Online
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