2025 Chess.com King of the Hill Championship: Official Discussion Thread

No, it's not Mount Everest. It is something way more challenging. We invite you to join the Chess.com King of the Hill Championship!
The event takes place May 15-16 featuring a $2,500 prize fund.

After a close contest against Chess With Checkers and Giveaway Chess, our community elected King of the Hill as this month's Community Championship variant. 

King of the Hill is one of Chess.com's oldest and most beloved variants. It is very similar to regular chess, with one difference: Players can win by "climbing the hill" with their king, taking it to the center of the board.

If a player reaches any of the highlighted squares with their king, they win the game.

While this new rule may excite our avid Bongcloud players, the reward is as high as the risk. Let's just say that trying to win by immediately taking your king to the center of the board is not the greatest idea.

As always, the event will have eight qualifiers. Each qualifier will be a 75-minute arena with a 3+0 time control, all taking place throughout May 15. The winner of each qualifier advances to the Final on May 16. The eight players will compete in a double-elimination knockout bracket, also with a 3+0 time control.

Any member of the Chess.com community can join. You can check the full qualifier schedule via the button below, where each arena has a set time and Join link. And while you might be the one doing the climbing, we'll be the ones on top of everything. We may require participants to join a fair play video call. Players who join the call must set up two cameras from different angles in the room. Players who refuse to comply will be removed from the event.

Are you ready to become the king of the hill? Then join the tournament to prove that you deserve the crown!

Join the Qualifiers!

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

• Variant:  King of the Hill
• Prize Fund:  $2,500
• Qualifiers Format:  75 min arenas, 3+0 blitz, rated. Winner advances to Knockout Final.
• Qualifiers Date:  May 15, eight total arenas. Full Schedule 
• Finals Format:  8 Players double-elimination knockout, 3+0 blitz, rated.
  Matches are Best of 4, if tied players contest 3+0 games until there's a winner.
• Finals Date & Time:  May 16 at 1 p.m. ET / 19:00 CEST with live broadcast.

What other variants would you like to see in the Chess.com Community Championships?
Let us know in the comments below! 👑

I will join

I feel kind of sad whenever I see variants with already thousands of players getting a lot of attention, while variants like Acheron, Enchanted Woodland and Explosive Magic get put into the sidelines…

hey! how to join?

You'll be able to join any of the eight qualifiers happening May/15 by using the button above, or hitting the Full Schedule link.

https://go.chess.com/forums_2025koth_schedule you will find all rounds here to join

i like turtles

respond with tuurtle emoji if agree

.

Boo

Прив

Can only diamond or premium join this tournament??

no everyone can join this tournament , there are no restrictions regarding membership in this tournament

I like chess

If we get into the quailifiers then how will we know when to put 2 cameras. Also what if we only have 1 camera do we join a zoom call on another device to show the hands?

you can borrow from any of your friend , or rent it for sometime

Thanks! How about this; If we get into the quailifiers then how will we know when to put 2 cameras.

i think they will let you know

Thanks

 :shock