2026 Chess.com Open: Official Discussion Thread

The 2026 Chess.com Open takes place March 14 - April 26, featuring a $250,000 prize fund and up to three direct spots to the next Esports World Cup.

Formerly known as the Chess.com Global Championship, the Chess.com Open keeps the same qualification system while highlighting its inclusive identity as the world's largest open online event.

Qualifiers were split into two funnels—each containing three pathways—with a 10+0 rapid, 9-round Swiss format.

The eight advancing players from all four Play-In events have joined the eight TTGP Winter Split qualified players on a 16-player double-elimination Playoffs, set to happen April 23-26.

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

• Announcement - Rebrand details, qualification overview, and key storylines

• Events Page - All info with Schedule, Format, Players, Games, Prizes, and more

• Esports World Cup - The EWC blends classical mastery with modern esports competition

• News - Stay tuned on the latest updates as the event unfolds

• Prediction Contest - Place your guesses and win up to 6 months diamond

• Prize Fund - $250,000

• Time Control - 10+0 rapid

• Format - Three Qualifiers Pathways (9-round Swiss) + 16-player double-elim. Playoffs

• Dates - Qualifiers: March 14-25 • Playoffs: April 23-26

• TTGP Winter Split Qualified Players - GM Magnus Carlsen, GM Arjun Erigaisi, GM Denis Lazavik, GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda, GM Javokhir Sindarov, GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, GM Sam Sevian, GM Vincent Keymer

• Play-Ins Qualified Players - GM Daniil Dubov, GM Ian Nepomniachtchi, GM Nihal Sarin, GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov, GM Pranesh M, GM Shant Sargsyan, GM Sina Movahed, GM Yu Yangyi

FIRST (First to comment)

Watch all of the qualifiers ruin the event and have their accounts closed for fair play.

Oh, I finally understood how this works! That will be interesting. Thanks!

makes sense

Can someone tell me why on some games, points winning and loosing are different and why an opponent sometimes looses large amounts of points. Example, I just won a game. We both had about the same amount of points. I wone 9 points and he lost 189 ? How is this calculated ? It's strange to me

It is due to the Glicko system, you can find more info here:
https://support.chess.com/en/articles/8566476-how-do-ratings-work-on-chess-com

كيف يمكنني المشاركة

Hi

Very cool

Can you guys delay the Quali's by like half an hour? pretty please?

Hi

I am challenging everyone that can you all be friends of me

Hi

Wow

Hello

 :nervous

Magnus will win

So you’re giving away a quarter of a million dollars in site fees?