2025 will present many major tournaments, making it an exciting chess year. This article offers a detailed overview of the 2025 chess tournaments where players with the highest ratings will compete, including information on time controls, locations, and live-streaming options.
Chess fans are in for a chess-filled year across Blitz, Rapid, and even Classical time controls. Oh, Chess960 lovers are also in for a treat, as there are Fischer random tournaments planned for 2025 as well.
It is crucial for the growth of the chess community that we, as fans, actively support these non-FIDE and FIDE tournaments because, as we all know, it takes hard work to plan them.
January
Tata Steel Chess Tournament
It is only fitting to begin the year on a high note. Commonly referred to as the Wimbledon of Chess, the Tata Steel Chess Tournament is one of the most prestigious events on the chess calendar. It usually features a Master section played by elite grandmasters called the Tata Steel Masters and a Challenger’s section for rising stars.
The winner of the Challenger’s section earns the opportunity to compete in the masters section the following year, showcasing their progression in the tournament hierarchy. It is slated to be held from 18 January to 2 February.
Tata Steel is a tournament you shouldn’t miss, considering its rich history of being played and won by various world champions.
- Location: Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands.
- Time Control: Classical (100 minutes for 40 moves followed by 50 minutes for the rest of the game, with a 30-second increment per move from move one).
- Past Winner (2024): Wei Yi.
- Where to Watch: Take Take Take App, on the Chess.com website, YouTube (FIDE), Lichess.
February
Freestyle Grand Slam Weissenhaus
All eyes are on the freestyle Grand Slam Weissenhaus, which runs from 7 February to 14 February. This event is the first leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam. For anyone following chess, there is a lot of drama surrounding this event. For example, FIDE and the Freestyle Chess Club are currently in the middle of drama over the “World Championship title.”
This event is a must-follow for chess players because of its significant online cultural impact on chess and the drama surrounding it.
- Location: Weissenhaus Private Nature Luxury Resorts in Wangels, Germany.
- Time Control: Classical (90+30).
- Past Winner: Magnus Carlsen.
- Where to Watch: YouTube channels like Magnus Carlsen, Lichess, Chess.com, and Take Take Take App.
FIDE Women Grand Prix (Third Leg)
The FIDE Grand Prix remains one of the top tournaments organized by FIDE each calendar year and continues in February. The prestigious event continues with the third Leg from 17th February to 28th February, ensuring an intense battle during this period.
The FIDE Grand Prix is an important part of the World Chess Championship cycle. This third leg will play a key role in determining the players who move closer to competing for the world title. Anticipating high stakes, we look forward to witnessing aggressive play and intense tiebreakers, which will add to the excitement of the tournament.
- Location: Monaco.
- Time Control: Classical (90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game. There is also a 30-second increment per move starting from move 1).
- Past Winner (2024 Second Leg): Aleksandra Goryachkina.
- Where to Watch: FIDE’s official YouTube channel, Lichess, Chess.com, Take Take Take App.
FIDE World Junior Chess Championship 2025 (Opens and Girls)
The FIDE World Junior Chess Championship is one of the most important annual events in the chess calendar. It is crucial for chess prodigies and rising stars, considering four winners have won the World Championship title (Boris Spaskky, Anatoly Karpov, Garry Kasparov, Viswanathan Anand)
- Location: Petrovac, Montenegro
- Time Control: Classical (90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with a 30-second increment per move from the first move).
- Past Winner (2024): Opens- Kazybek Nogerbek, Girls- Divya Deshmukh
- Where to Watch: FIDE’s official YouTube channel, Lichess, Chess.com, Take Take Take
The FIDE World Junior Chess Championship is another prestigious event to watch out for.
March
American Cup
The American Cup is an annual invitational tournament and one of the few elite chess tournaments with a double-elimination knockout format, meaning players will get a second chance even if they lose an early match.
This unique setup leads to interesting drama and thrilling competition. The event showcases the top American players in an 8-player elimination-style competition.
- Location: Saint Louis, USA.
- Time Control: Classical & Rapid.
- Past Winner (2024): Levon Aronian.
- Where to Watch: Saint Louis Chess Club’s YouTube and Twitch Channel, Chess.com, and Take Take Take App.
April
FIDE Women’s World Championship
The 2025 FIDE Women’s World Chess Championship remains one of the year’s highlight events. It features an all-out Chinese matchup between Ju Wenjun and Tan Zhangyi, a rematch of their 2018 match, in which Ju Wenjun defeated Tan Zhangyi 5½-4½.
Having claimed the title in 2018, Ju Wenjun has successfully defended the title in 2020 and 2023. For Tan Zhongyi, she had won the title in 2017 and has now earned a rematch chance by winning against a stacked field of top players in what she called a surprise win, considering she had been focused on managing a chess club and coaching students.
Overall, it promises to be an interesting event to follow in 2025
- Location: Shanghai and Chongqing, China.
- Time Control: Classical format with 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, then 30 minutes for the rest of the game, and a 30-second increment per move from the start.
- Previous Champion (2023): Ju Wenjun.
- Where to Watch: FIDE’s YouTube and Twitch Channel, Chess.com, and Take Take Take App.
Freestyle Grand Slam Paris
- Location: Paris, France
- Time Control: Classical (90+30)
- Past Winner (2024): Magnus Carlsen
- Where to Watch: Lichess, Chess.com, YouTube, and Take Take Take App.
The second leg of the Freestyle Grand Slam Paris resumes in the city of love and culture from April 8th to 15th.
May
Superbet Chess Classic Romania (Grand Chess Tour)
The Grand Chess Tour resumes with this prestigious classical event. Previous editions have seen intense clashes between Carlsen, Caruana, Nepomniachtchi, and several other super GMs.
- Location: Bucharest, Romania
- Time Control: Classical
- Past Winner (2024): Alireza Firouzja (120 minutes for the game, plus 30-second increments from move one).
- Where to Watch: YouTube, Chess.com, Lichess, and Take Take Take App.
June
Norway Chess
Norway chess remains one of the few events you can count on Magnus Carlsen to play each year.
This event has a unique format: drawn games go into an Armageddon tiebreaker, ensuring decisive results.
Chess fans will be eager to see if someone can defeat him in 2025, considering his strong performance on home turf. Technically, it starts on 26 May but will end by 6 June.
- Location: Stavanger, Norway.
- Time Control: Classical (120 minutes per player, with a 10-second increment starting at move 41).
- Past Winner (2024): Magnus Carlsen.
- Where to Watch: Chess24, Chess.com, Lichess, and Take Take Take App.
July
FIDE World Cup (Open and Women)
A knockout-style event featuring the best players in the world playing for prizes and also qualification into the FIDE candidates. The Open and Women’s World Cup are scheduled to be held at the same time.
- Location: Batumi, Georgia.
- Time Control: Classical (90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game with an increment of 30 seconds per move).
- Past Winner (2023): Aleksandra Goryachkina (Women), Magnus Carlsen (Opens)
- Where to Watch: FIDE, Chess.com, Lichess, and Take Take Take App.
Freestyle Grand Slam New York
- Location: Paris, France.
- Time Control: Classical (90+30).
- Past Winner (2024): Magnus Carlsen.
- Where to Watch: Lichess, Chess.com, YouTube and Take Take Take App.
Sinquefield Cup
The Sinquefield Cup is another major Grand Chess Tour series tournament that brings elite grandmasters together to compete.
It was the brainchild of billionaire Rex Sinquefield, one of the USA’s main sponsors and promoters of chess. Players such as Magnus Carlsen and Fabi Caruana have previously won it.
- Location: Saint Louis, USA.
- Time Control: Classical (120 minutes for the entire game, plus a 30-second increment per move).
- Past Winner (2024): Alireza Firouzja.
- Where to Watch: Saint Louis Chess Club on YouTube, Chess.com, Take Take Take.
September
Freestyle Grand Slam Delhi
The acclaimed Freestyle Chess tour continues to India, the country of world champion Gukesh D, from 17th September to 24th September. This is a live chess event that fans in India should look forward to.
- Location: Delhi, India.
- Time Control: Classical (90+30).
- Past Winner (2024): Magnus Carlsen.
- Where to Watch: Chess.com, Lichess, Take Take Take.
October
European Club Cup
It is one of the most prestigious team events in chess, where top clubs recruit world-class grandmasters to battle for the title.
- Location: Various European Cities
- Time Control: Classical (90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 more minutes for the rest of the game, with a 30-second increment per move).
- Past Winner (2024): Novy Bor Chess Club
- Where to Watch: Chess.com, Lichess
November
As of this writing, no super tournament has a confirmed date for November. However, the following events are speculated to be held in November.
- Grand Swiss
- Tata Steel India RB
December
World Rapid & Blitz Championship
Ending the year with the World Championship match promises thrills and fast-paced action, making it a captivating finale for chess fans.
- Location: To be announced.
- Time Control: Rapid & Blitz.
- Past Winner (2024 Rapid): Volodar Murzin (Opens), Humpy Koneru (Women).
- Past Winner (2024 Blitz): Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomiatchi as Co-Champions, Ju Wenjun (Women)
- Where to Watch: FIDE YouTube channel, Chess.com, Lichess, YouTube.
Conclusion
The 2025 chess calendar promises an exciting array of top events and championship titles, guaranteeing a thrilling and eventful chess season.
From the various Grand Chess Tour events to FIDE Championship tournaments, let’s eagerly expect these events and rally behind our favorite players as they strive to showcase their skills and dominate these competitions.
As always, we expect the best efforts from players, as playing in these tournaments remains one of the top ways for chess players to make money.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who is Rex Sinquefield?
Rex Sinquefield is a Billionaire philanthropist and the founder of the Saint Louis Chess Club, which has become the center of elite chess tournaments in the US and one of the most prominent chess clubs in the world.
Who Has Won The Most Money from Chess Tournaments?
Magnus Carlsen holds the record for the highest earnings from chess tournaments, thanks to his multiple World Championship victories, tournament wins, and career dominance.
What Chess Tournament has the Highest Prize Fund?
The World Chess Championship has the largest prize pool in chess, often exceeding $2 million. This substantial amount attracts top players and contributes to the championship’s prestige.
How do Chess tournaments Get Funding?
Major tournaments are funded through sponsorships, broadcasting rights, and corporate investments from companies like Superbet, Chess.com, and Google.
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