2025 Speed Chess Championship: Official Discussion Thread

The highly anticipated 2025 SCC kicks off October 13, featuring a $250,000 prize fund and three qualification spots for the 2026 Esports World Cup comprising the Champions Chess Tour.

The Speed Chess Championship is where the world's most vicious players clash in high speed, high stakes chess, with drama guaranteed as the event reignites the fiercest rivalries in chess today. Eight invited players are joined by eight players from the Titled Tuesday Grand Prix.

The event kicks off in style next Monday, October 13, with Firouzja vs Minh Le at 7:30 a.m. PT / 10:30 a.m. ET / 16:30 CEST, then Carlsen vs Martinez at 11 a.m. PT / 2 p.m. ET / 20:00 CEST, making it a fully stacked speed chess Monday elite.

All Round of 16 matches will happen through October, with the Quarterfinals estimated soon afterwards. Semis and Finals are set to happen live on February 7-8 in London, with tickets being made available soon.

2025 SCC Prediction Contest Prizes

First place:  6-month FREE Diamond Membership

Second place:  3-month FREE Diamond Membership

Third place:  2-month FREE Diamond Membership

Randomly selected participant:  1-month FREE Diamond Membership

Watch the live broadcast on our ChessTV, Twitch and YouTube channels.
Find all relevant links/info below and use the comments for discussion on the event.

• Announcement - Chess.com preamble news item on the 2025 SCC
• Events Page - Full info with Schedule, Format, Players, Games, Prizes, and more
• Prediction Contest - Guess the results and earn prizes! (Deadline: Oct/13)

• Dates - Round of 16: October 13-30 • Quarterfinals: TBA • Semis+Finals: February 7-8
• Prize Fund - $250,000
• Format - Single Elimination Knockout, overall score based off three time control segments.
• Time Controls - 5+1 Blitz • 3+1 Blitz • 1+1 Bullet
• Players - GM Alireza Firouzja, GM Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, GM Wesley So, GM Ian Nepomniachtchi, GM Ding Liren, GM Fabiano Caruana, GM Anish Giri, GM Vincent Keymer, GM Magnus Carlsen, GM Hikaru Nakamura, GM Quang Liem Le, GM Arjun Erigaisi, GM Denis Lazavik, GM Jose Martinez, GM Tuan Minh Le, GM Hans Niemann
• Location - Ro16+QFs Online • SFs+Finals live in London (more info TBA)

fwist again :3

Prediction: Magnus, Hikaru, and Alireza are making it to the semifinals again, not sure who the 4th will be tho

Hikaruuu!

4th will be daniel naroditsky

Maybe 🤔

this is going to be something to watch, I am rooting for Hikaru here

I think gukesh win

Not playing