Day 1
Clutch Chess: Champions Showdown is a high-profile rapid tournament gathering four elite competitors. Reigning world champion Gukesh Dommaraju joins the world’s top three rated players in a concentrated three-day battle. Hosted at the upgraded facilities of the Saint Louis Chess Club, the event provides an intense showcase of modern elite chess.
The competition runs from 27 to 29 October and follows a “clutch” structure of three double round-robins, with two games per pairing in each stage for a total of 18 games per participant. The time control is 10 minutes for the entire game, plus a 5-second increment per move. An anti-early-draw regulation remains in effect: draws are not permitted before Black’s 60th move, encouraging players to fight in every position.
The innovation lies in the escalating scoring system, as results become progressively more valuable with each round-robin.
- Round-robin one: Players earn 1 point for a win, ½ for a draw, and 0 for a loss
- Round-robin two: Players earn 2 points for a win, 1 for a draw, and 0 for a loss
- Round-robin three: Players earn 3 points for a win, 1½ for a draw, and 0 for a loss
The structure promotes risk-taking and sustained ambition throughout the event.
Live games and commentary
Commentary by GMs Yasser Seirawan & Maurice Ashley, WGM Anastasiya Karlovich and James Dash for the move-by-move
