Arena Kings, Chess.com’s longest-running tournament for creators, is undergoing changes starting October 1. The event will feature a new format and cadence that will help creators build and engage their communities.
The new Arena Kings will now happen monthly instead of weekly. The event will take place every first Wednesday of the month, starting at 12 p.m. ET / 18:00 CEST / 9:30 p.m. IST.
However, this change does not mark the end of weekly prize events for creators. The newly announced The After Party and The Untitled After Party will start on September 9, almost a month before Arena Kings changes, featuring a weekly $2,000 prize fund.
Another notable change to Arena Kings will be in the event’s format. The new Arena Kings will now be a two-hour multi-club arena with a 3+0 time control. Creators can now rally their followers through their clubs to participate and battle for prizes. The top-30 scorers from each club will count toward the final leaderboard, and players from the same club won’t be paired against each other.
The new format will support creators with an exciting new competition to engage their communities. Much more than an individual event, the new Arena Kings will now bring communities front and center, giving them the opportunity to represent their favorite creators.
Creators who want to participate must register for the event using our official sign-up form.
Finally, the new Arena Kings will also feature a $2,500 prize fund for creators. Of the cash prize fund, $1,400 will be distributed based on the club leaderboards, and $1,000 on the creators’ leaderboard. Check out the prize distribution below*:
| Place | Club | Creator |
| 1st | $500 | $500 |
| 2nd | $350 | $300 |
| 3rd | $200 | $200 |
| 4th | $150 | – |
| 5th-6th | $100 | – |
| Staff Pick | $100 | – |
* Please note that cash prizes are reserved for creators streaming the event only, and creators must provide Video on Demand access to be eligible for prizes.
Chess.com members who participate will also have the chance to win prizes. The top five scorers from each of the top five teams will win a one-month Diamond membership. One random player per club with more than 15 scorers will also receive a one-month Diamond membership.
Are you ready to represent your favorite creators in the new Arena Kings? Let us know in the comments below!
