SAINT LOUIS, MO – The 2025 Grand Chess Tour (GCT) marks its tenth anniversary this April, promising even greater excitement and exceptional chess from the world’s leading players. This year’s tour boasts a $1.6 million prize pool and the return of the GCT Finals, which will be held in São Paulo, Brazil, for the first time in South America.
Garry Kasparov, legendary World Champion, stated, ‘The 10th anniversary of the Grand Chess Tour celebrates a decade of excellence, bringing together the strongest players globally to showcase skill, strategy, and resilience. This year’s lineup is among the most competitive we’ve ever seen, confirming the tour’s status as a pinnacle of elite chess. This would not be possible without the continuous support of the Saint Louis Chess Club and the Superbet Foundation, whose dedication elevates chess worldwide.’
Players selected for the full 2025 tour include:
| Player Name | Country | FIDE Rating | URS Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| GM Gukesh Dommaraju | IND | 2777 | 2744 |
| GM Alireza Firouzja | FRA | 2760 | 2789 |
| GM Fabiano Caruana | USA | 2803 | 2807 |
| GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | FRA | 2729 | 2761 |
| GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov | UZB | 2766 | 2780 |
| GM Wesley So | USA | 2747 | 2772 |
| GM Praggnanandha Ramesh Babu | IND | 2741 | 2749 |
| GM Levon Aronian | USA | 2745 | 2762 |
| GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda | POL | 2739 | 2768 |
World champion Gukesh Dommaraju | Photo: Lennart Ootes
Nine players received full tour invitations for the 2025 GCT. Three players qualified by ranking in the top 3 of the 2024 Grand Chess Tour. The remaining invitations were based on factors such as URS rating, FIDE rating, fighting spirit, and sportsmanship.
Full tour participants will compete in both classical events and two of the three rapid and blitz tournaments. Wildcard participants for the rapid and blitz events in Warsaw, Zagreb, and Saint Louis will be announced later.
The total prize pool for the 2025 season has increased to $1.6 million. Each classical tournament offers $350,000, and each rapid and blitz event offers $175,000. The top four players from the regular season will compete for an additional $350,000 in knockout matches at the GCT finals.
Alireza Firouzja won the 2024 edition of the GCT | Photo: Lennart Ootes
The prize fund is supported by the 2025 GCT major sponsors, Superbet Foundation and The Saint Louis Chess Club, both non-profit organizations dedicated to chess education and expanding chess to a global audience.
Augusta Dragic, President of the Superbet Foundation, commented, ‘The Superbet Foundation is proud to support another exciting Grand Chess Tour, reinforcing our dedication to promoting chess worldwide. Chess embodies strategy, discipline, and resilience, values we strongly believe in. With over 20 million viewers last year, we aim to inspire even more this year. By supporting events like the GCT, we strive to make chess more accessible and demonstrate its power to unite people globally.’
Tony Rich, Technical Director of the Saint Louis Chess Club, stated, ‘Saint Louis is a global chess capital, and we are proud to host two GCT legs again. As we celebrate the 10th anniversary, we recognize its impact on elite chess and the wider chess community. We look forward to welcoming top players to Saint Louis and inspiring future chess enthusiasts.’
This year, the GCT welcomes former US Champion GM Alex Onischuk as GCT Deputy Executive Director, who will be crucial in expanding the tour’s reach. He will be joined by Chief Arbiter Chris Bird and Deputy Chief Arbiter Ignatius Leong, adding expertise and integrity to the tour.
Michael Khodarkovsky, Executive Director of the GCT, said, ‘The GCT continues to evolve, and we are excited to welcome Grandmaster Alex Onischuk as GCT Deputy Executive Director. His leadership will be vital in expanding the tour’s global impact, benefiting both players and fans. This year also marks the return of the GCT Finals, making history with our first South American stop in São Paulo. This highlights the Grand Chess Tour’s growth and our commitment to bringing world-class chess to new global audiences.’
2025 Tour Schedule:
- Superbet Rapid & Blitz Poland: April 24-May 1, 2025 in Warsaw, Poland
- Superbet Chess Classic Romania: May 5-17, 2025 in Bucharest, Romania
- SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz Croatia: June 30-July 7, 2025 in Zagreb, Croatia
- Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz: August 9-16 in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
- Sinquefield Cup: August 16-29, 2025 in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
- GCT Finals: September 26-October 4, 2025 in São Paulo, Brazil
