2025 Women's Speed Chess Championship: Official Discussion Thread - Chess Forums

Aug 1, 2025

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The 2025 WSCC takes place August 4-29, featuring a $75,000 prize fund.

2025 WSCC — Invited Players

Headlining the WSCC are the two most dominant women in chess today. Current Women's World Champion GM Ju Wenjun and women's number-one GM Hou Yifan are both confirmed to participate, along with 14 of the strongest women speed chess players in the world.

2025 WSCC — Qualified Players

To round out the 16-player field, eight women from the Titled Tuesday Grand Prix leaderboard are joining the action. Among them is the Chess Queen herself, GM Alexandra Kosteniuk.
A regular top-scorer among women in Titled Tuesday tournaments, she finished this season at the top of the women's leaderboard. This year, she'll battle for her first WSCC title.

With a phenomenal field and its exhilarating format, the WSCC seventh edition is set to be another exciting display of high-level speed chess competition.

Format Overview (show details)

16 players compete in a single-elimination bracket
All matches consist of three segments, each a countdown timer with a different time control (see Match Format)
Players earn 1 point for a win, 0.5 for a draw, and 0 for a loss
The player with the most cumulative points at the end of the last segment wins the match
Games that start before the countdown timer runs out count toward the final score
If the match ends in a tie, players contest a four-game 1+1 match
If still tied, a single bidding armageddon game with a base time of 5 minutes determines the winner

Matches Format (show details)

All matches are divided into three segments, each a countdown match clock as described below:

Round-of-16 and quarterfinals
- 45 minutes of 5+1 games
- 30 minutes of 3+1 games
- 15 minutes of 1+1 games
Semifinals and final
- 75 minutes of 5+1 games
- 50 minutes of 3+1 games
- 25 minutes of 1+1 games
The player with the most points after the end of the last segment wins the match

2025 WSCC 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 WSCC
Events Page - Full info with Schedule, Format, Players, Games, Prizes, and more
Prediction Contest - Guess the results and earn prizes! (Deadline: Aug/4)