The Speed Chess Championship (SCC) is back, and drama is guaranteed as the event will reignite the fiercest rivalries in chess today. Starting October 13, the championship will once again pit GMs Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, and Hans Niemann against each other in thrilling speed chess matches!
The anticipation builds as fans will have the chance to watch their heroes in person, with the SCC Finals taking place in London, U.K., on February 7 and 8, 2026. Stay tuned for more information about tickets coming soon.
Stakes will be even higher this year, as players not only compete for their share of a hefty $250,000 prize fund, but also for three spots in the next Esports World Cup.
This year’s lineup provides the perfect sequel for last year’s event, when the same three players met in Paris for the SCC Final. The event, which broke viewership records and drew major media attention, ended with Carlsen as the champion—leaving his two rivals yearning for revenge.
Of the two, Nakamura is perhaps the biggest threat to Carlsen’s reign over the board. The American is one of the most dominant speed chess players in SCC’s history, with five titles under his belt, including a 2022 victory over Carlsen. Regarded by Carlsen himself as “simply better at chess than the others,” Nakamura’s sharp and cunning play guarantees fireworks whenever he competes.
And while Niemann finished off the podium last year, he could prove to be Carlsen’s toughest mental challenge yet. Each of their encounters carries extra heat since the major controversy involving the two in 2022.
They last met during the 2024 FIDE World Blitz Championship, when Carlsen narrowly won their match after starting behind. After the match, a visibly relieved Carlsen banged the king on the chessboard before storming out of the playing hall. Should the two meet again in this year’s SCC, the clash won’t just be about moves on the board—it will be about pride, redemption, and who can hold their nerve when it matters most.
🇳🇴 Magnus Carlsen knocks out 🇺🇸 Hans Niemann from the FIDE World Blitz Championship!
ℹ️ Carlsen 2,5-1,5 Niemann #RapidBlitz pic.twitter.com/fHddM1rslH
— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) December 31, 2024
Along with the three rivals, five other players have already qualified for the SCC through the 2025 Titled Tuesday Grand Prix. Among them is the Indian star GM Arjun Erigaisi, currently the world number-four on the live rating list. A dangerous blitz player with an uncompromising playing style, Arjun is among the favorites to make it to the Finals in London. Other qualified players include GMs Liem Le, Denis Lazavik, Jose Martinez, and Tuan Minh Le.
But the excitement doesn’t stop there, as eight other chess titans are invited to join the fray. Among them is one of last edition’s finalists, GM Alireza Firouzja, who finished the competition in second place after defeating Nakamura. Firouzja has proven time and again that he’s one of the most talented blitz and bullet players in the world, and that he’s not scared of facing anyone. After dominating this year’s Bullet Chess Championship, he’ll be striving for the first SCC title of his career.
Another invited player joining the action is GM Fabiano Caruana, currently the world number-three on the live rating list. A perennial contender on the biggest stages, Caruana’s presence adds even more star power to the field as he takes on the world’s best in the speed chess arena. Other confirmed players include GMs Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Wesley So, and former world champion Ding Liren.
The 16 speedsters will compete in a single-elimination knockout in the same format fans know and love: two segments of blitz followed by a bullet segment.
Join us live on Twitch and YouTube from October 13 and enjoy the excitement of every twist, turn, and time scramble only the SCC can provide!
Who will make it to London in this edition of the SCC? Let us know your prediction in the comments!
