PRO Chess League Teams Recruiting Fans To Play Summer Series
The PRO Chess League may have just crowned a new champion, but 16 teams are already eyeing the PRO Chess League Summer Series, which starts on June 1. Unlike traditional PRO Chess League events, teams will depend on their fans each week in the group stage to progress to the playoffs.
Across Live Club Matches, Knockout Battles, and the Summer Series Championships, each of the 16 invited teams will compete for a share of the $25,000 prize fund. To get there, teams are already promoting their fan clubs so you can participate in the PRO Chess League's first-ever summer event.
Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D
The 16 teams have been split into four groups for the PRO Chess League Summer Series. The top two teams from each group will automatically qualify for the Summer Series Championship in August, followed by two additional third-place teams to be determined by a fan vote. To learn more about the PRO Chess League Summer Series, read the official information page.
Make sure to join you favorite team's fan club so you can play alongside them in this summer's Live Club Matches! Fans can play for more than one team during the full Summer Series.
2019 PRO Chess League Summer Series | Group A
Team | |
Chengdu Pandas | |
San Diego Surfers | |
Saint Louis Arch Bishops | |
San Francisco Mechanics |
Dates: June 1, June 8, and June 15
This challenging group pits two PRO Chess League semifinalists against two teams with ambitious goals this Summer Series. While Saint Louis and Chengdu will be favorites to progress to the playoffs, fans of the California-based teams can wreak havoc on an interesting Group A mix. Will this group create the summer's first giant killer?
Chengdu Pandas
Come and join Chengdu Pandas Official Fan Club through https://t.co/qeEgNCURZm 🐼🐼🐼 Represent Chengdu Pandas and fight together with Ding Liren, Yu Yangyi, Li Chao, Wang Yue and so on in the very first @PROChessLeague Summer Series!!! Go! Pandas! Go! pic.twitter.com/9ICV8jsfsS
— Chengdu Pandas (@ChessPandas) May 10, 2019
Want to play for Chengdu this summer? Team up with Li Chao and Wang Yue as the Pandas take on three tough American teams in Group A. Will the two-time PRO Chess League semifinalist make waves in the inaugural Summer Series?
Saint Louis Arch Bishops
Join us for the @PROChessLeague #summerseries! https://t.co/WWuTS4deSo pic.twitter.com/c1v49EbtAo
— STL Arch Bishops (@stlarchbishops) May 13, 2019
Want to play for Saint Louis this summer? The 2019 champions are looking to become the first team to ever win the PRO Chess League double crown, and need your help! Team up with Fabiano Caruana and Wesley So for your chance to play for the Arch Bishops.
2019 PRO Chess League Summer Series | Group B
Team | |
Barcelona Raptors | |
Baden Baden Snowballs | |
Pittsburgh Pawngrabbers | |
Reykjavik Puffins |
Dates: June 22, June 29, and July 6
This group is certainly the Summer Series' group of life. Group B presents a mix where each of the four teams can progress to the next round, and fans will likely play a significant deciding factor. Baden-Baden, the central division champion and PRO Chess League finalist, is certainly the favorite to win the group, but bitter PRO Chess League memories from the Pawngrabbers, Raptors, and Puffins could quickly cause Summer Series chaos.
Pittsburgh Pawngrabbers
Hey Pawngrabbers fans! Come join us for part of your summer in the #prochess league summer series on @chesscom ! Find out more at https://t.co/3YEdI2CUpw! pic.twitter.com/kpqOSidc4S
— Pittsburgh Pawngrabbers (@pghpawngrabbers) May 16, 2019
Want to play for Pittsburgh this summer? The Pawngrabbers may have been relegated, but NM Grant Xu's side has taken great strides in preparation for the PRO Chess League Summer Series. Team up with U.S. women's champion WGM Jennifer Yu and World Senior gold medalist GM Alexander Shabalov to fight for the black and gold!
Reykjavik Puffins
Want to play for Reykjavik this summer? Who doesn't? Join Zibbit and the Puffins for their first PRO Chess League appearance since the 2018 regular season. Make sure to learn the Viking thunder clap, because GMs Helgi Olafsson and Hannes Stefansson are going for the win every match!
2019 PRO Chess League Summer Series | Group C
Team | |
Armenia Eagles | |
Moscow Wizards | |
Mumbai Movers | |
Sao Paulo Capybaras |
Dates: July 13, July 20, and July 27
Eastern Division, meet Brazil! Armenia, Moscow and Mumbai certainly know each other well, but what happens when the upstart Sao Paulo Capybaras are thrown into the mix? Armenia will be the chalk favorite to take the group, but each of the four teams can find its way into the playoffs with a strong performance in the Live Club Matches.
Will fans carry the Eagles to the postseason, or will the 2018 PRO Chess League champions make a dramatic early exit?
Armenia Eagles
Want to play for Armenia this summer? Join the Eagles as they look to avenge their loss in the 2019 PRO Chess League semifinals. GM Zaven Andriasian and IM Shant Sargsyan may have carried the team this past season, but now they are counting on you to give them an extra boost.
Mumbai Movers
Want to play for Mumbai this summer? India's lone team in the PRO Chess League Summer Series seeks revenge as GMs Vidit Gujrathi and Adhiban Baskaran lead the charge for the Mumbai Movers. Can you help push Mumbai into the PRO Chess League Summer Series Championship?
Sao Paulo Capybaras
Want to play for Sao Paulo this summer? The Capybaras are the first PRO Chess League team from Brazil, and look to make waves in the Summer Series. Join GMs Krikor Sevag Mekhitarian and Rafael Leitao to fight for Sao Paulo in a tough Group C!
2019 PRO Chess League Summer Series | Group D
Team | |
Cannes Blitzstreams | |
Minnesota Blizzard | |
Montreal Chessbrahs | |
Norway Gnomes |
Dates: August 3, August 10, and August 17
PRO Chess League fans will be treated to the group of death to close the Summer Series' group stage. In a healthy mix of Central, Atlantic, and Pacific Division teams, fans will play a significant role in determining which teams automatically qualify for the playoffs. With well-known streamers leading each team, expect a tight group finish as each of these four teams can easily find itself at the top of the group.
Minnesota Blizzard
Ah, fond memories of the @PROChessLeague playoffs 😂Anyways, we're on to the PRO Chess League Summer Series now, where fan participation is key! We'd love for you to join our club on @chesscom and help snow in the competition: https://t.co/NA5JhJDYo0 ❄️❄️❄️ pic.twitter.com/NNdScejjdw
— John Bartholomew (@fins0905) May 11, 2019
Want to play for Minnesota this summer? After a tough loss to the Chengdu Pandas in the Pacific Division Championship, expect GMs Fidel Corrales and Andrew Tang to prove their mettle in the group of death. Will the Blizzard melt out of the group stage? You just might make the difference.
Norway Gnomes
You can represent the Gnomes in competitive #prochess play! Sign up for our fan club and mark your calendar (Aug 3, 10, 17)! https://t.co/ToSVWelyAf pic.twitter.com/nUuyeRJRxS
— Norway Gnomes (@NorwayGnomes) May 9, 2019
Want to play for Norway this summer? The Gnomes are also looking to rebound from a division championship loss, and GM Jon Ludvig Hammer is calling on you to play for Norway this summer. Play with Norwegian talents GMs Aryan Tari and Johan-Sebastian Christiansen in what promises to be the toughest group of the summer.
Which teams do you want to play for this summer? Make sure to join each of their fan clubs and mark your calendars so you have a chance to become a Summer Series' top fan!
The PRO Chess League Summer Series season will be broadcast live on www.Twitch.tv/Chess.