Chess.com Restricts Draw Offers In Multiple Prize Events

Beginning in 2024, multiple Chess.com prize events will restrict draw offers until after move 30, and our bullet chess prize events will restrict draw offers for the entire game.

While there is no doubt that a draw is a perfectly valid outcome in many a hard-fought chess game, draws by agreement, especially in the early stages of the game, have long been controversial in top-level chess. In most other games or sports, it is not possible for competitors to decide at any point in the game to agree to a tie. In the spirit of competition, we’re looking to eradicate this phenomenon.

The following table outlines events that will be affected by these changes in 2024—all other events will be unaffected.

In all of these events, server restrictions on draw offers will result in the draw offer button being disabled for both players until after the allotted move number.

While the timing is entirely coincidental, early draw offers have been much discussed in chess in the context of the ongoing FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships. GM Vladimir Fedoseev agreed to a draw with White on move nine vs. GM Dmitry Andreikin in the final round of the Rapid Championship, a move that ultimately secured clear second place for Fedoseev and a $50,000 payday. GM Lei Tingjie offered a draw with White in only three moves against IM Anastasia Bodnaruk, but the outcome proved unfavorable to her. She missed out on tiebreaks, and her opponent ultimately won the title in spectacular style.

Most unusually, GMs Ian Nepomniachtchi and Daniil Dubov played out a 13-move draw for which they were doubly forfeited as draws by collusion are prohibited by FIDE.

Decision of Chief Arbiter IA Ivan Syrovy regarding the Dubov-Nepomniachtchi game. pic.twitter.com/B2mmHfqn1B

— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) December 29, 2023

Ultimately, Chess.com feels that it is never appropriate to criticize players for agreeing to early draws if it is in their best interest to do so, but we also do not think it should be an option in professional competitions.

In conversations with top players (and especially with ban-the-draw-offer advocate GM Robert Hess), we have heard nothing but support for this update, and we hope it leads only to more great and exciting chess in 2024!