Registration Open Now: First-Ever Cash Prize Tournament For Premium Members
Update: The first-event premium arena will now take place Wednesday, June 3 at 9 a.m. Pacific Time (18:00 CEST)!
Register for the Arena beginning one hour before it begins here: https://www.chess.com/live#r=212024
After postponing the original event one month, Chess.com is finally ready to launch a highly-anticipated, historic new event: The Premium Arena! For the first time ever, all premium members (diamond, platinum, gold, and titled) can compete for cash prizes in the inaugural Premium Arena. With special rating classes and streamer prizes, Chess.com is offering up to $4,500 in prizes for the first event.
The Premium Arena kicks off on Wednesday, June 3 at 9 a.m. Pacific Time (18:00 CET) and can be found in Live Chess at Chess.com/live in the tournaments tab. The arena will feature two hours of blitz time controls to determine each rating class winner.
The Premium Arena will allow both super-grandmasters and casual players to earn cash prizes for the first time. Previously, the majority of Chess.com cash prize events were catered towards expert-level players, but with the introduction of the Premium Arena, Chess.com is providing an opportunity for players of all skill levels to cash in on their dedication to chess!
All premium Chess.com members are eligible to join the Premium Arena by joining a Premium Arena on the Chess.com live server under the tournaments tab. Streaming is not a requirement to earn cash prizes.
Want to battle in the Premium Arena and win cash prizes? Upgrade to a premium membership today and join in on the action Wednesday, June 3 at 9 a.m. Pacific Time (18:00 CET)!
You can find quick links to important event information below:
Players who win cash prizes and stream their entire arena performance will have their cash prize doubled. For tips on how to stream your games and the best ways to get more viewers, see these articles:
Premium Arena Details:
Eligibility and Identification Requirements:
- Participants must have played at least 25 games at blitz time controls
- Per our standard identification rules for all cash-prize events, we require all prize winners to identify themselves.
- Real names must be listed on Chess.com profiles, and anonymous players cannot earn prizes in the Premium Arena.
- All participants must be premium members (Gold, Platinum or Diamond).
- Rating classes are determined by the premium member's chess.com blitz rating as of the end of the arena.
- Deliberate rating manipulation before the tournament begins will disqualify members from winning cash prizes.
To be eligible for the streamer prize bonus, all streamers must fulfill the following requirements:
- All streams must be easily identifiable on Twitch by listing your streams in the game "Chess."
- Streamers must appear on camera during their streams or provide verbal commentary of the games in progress to earn cash prizes during Premium Arena events. The users' chessboard must be visible on stream at all times.
- Streamers must be streaming from when the beginning of the Arena until the end. We will allow up to 5 minutes grace at the start of the Arena (as measured by the Arena timer).
- Streamers must have their broadcast VODs enabled for Chess.com staff to review.
- Wednesday at 9 a.m. Pacific Time (18:00 CET)
- 3/0 time control
- Two-hour arena tournament
- Players of all rating classes will play in the same arena
- Live broadcast on Twitch.tv/chess
Special rating class prizes will be offered to U800, U1000, U1200, U1400, U1600, U1800, U2000, U2200, and U2400 players.
All players who stream their games, finish in the top three of their rating class (or overall), and abide by Chess.com's identification rules (see requirements above) will have their cash prize doubled.
Additionally, Chess.com will randomly award a one-year Diamond membership to a player who plays for the duration of the arena. Click the image below for a larger version.
Want to battle in the Premium Arena and win cash prizes? Upgrade to a premium membership today and join in on the action Wednesday, June 3 at 9 a.m. Pacific Time (18:00 CET)!
