Clutch Chess Champions Showdown: Caruana, Nakamura, Pragg and Sindarov chase $425,000 in Saint Louis

Four of the world's best rapid players sit down in Saint Louis on Tuesday, 27 October, for the second edition of Clutch Chess: Champions Showdown. Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu and Javokhir Sindarov will play 18 games over three days at the Saint Louis Chess Club, under a scoring system designed to make the final day the most valuable.

The field

Each player arrives with a strong storyline. Praggnanandhaa won this year's Grand Chess Tour, beating Caruana in the final in August. Sindarov won the Candidates Tournament in April and is preparing for his World Championship match against Gukesh Dommaraju in November, making this event one of his last competitive outings before the title bid.

Caruana comes in straight from the US Championship, where he lost the title to Wesley So in a rapid playoff last week. Nakamura, rated 2810 on the club's listing, has played relatively little over-the-board chess recently but remains among the highest-rated players in the world.

Magnus Carlsen, who won the inaugural event in 2025 with 25½ points and two games to spare, is not defending his title.

How the scoring works

The format is three double round-robins, one per day, so every player meets every opponent twice daily, once with each colour. That makes six games per player per day and 18 in total. The time control is 10 minutes per player plus a five-second increment from move one.

The twist is in the points. On day one a win is worth 1 point and a draw half a point. On day two a win is worth 2 and a draw 1. On day three a win is worth 3, but a draw still earns only 1, which makes decisive results far more valuable at the end. A player who trails after two days can still overturn the standings with a strong final session.

Draw offers are not allowed before Black's 60th move. If two players tie for first, a single Armageddon game decides the title; a three- or four-way tie goes to an Armageddon round-robin.

Prize money

The total prize fund is $425,000. The winner receives $125,000, with $94,000 for second, $72,000 for third and $62,000 for fourth. Every won game also carries a bonus of $1,000 on day one, $2,000 on day two and $3,000 on day three. The money from drawn games is not lost: it rolls into a Champion's Jackpot paid to the tournament winner on top of first prize.

Malaysia-time guide

Play starts at noon Central Daylight Time each day, which is 1am the following morning in Malaysia. That means day one begins at 1am on Wednesday, 28 October (MYT), day two at 1am on Thursday and day three at 1am on Friday, 30 October. Later rounds start at least 15 minutes after the previous round finishes. The event is broadcast live on the Saint Louis Chess Club's YouTube and Twitch channels.

Key takeaways

• Caruana, Nakamura, Praggnanandhaa and Sindarov play 18 rapid games from 27 to 29 October.
• Wins are worth 1, 2 and 3 points on successive days, while draws stay at a maximum of 1 point.
• The prize fund is $425,000, with $125,000 plus a jackpot from drawn games for the winner.
• Each day starts at 1am Malaysia time; defending champion Carlsen is not playing.

FAQ

What time does Clutch Chess start in Malaysia? Each day begins at noon in Saint Louis, which is 1am the next morning in Malaysia, from Wednesday 28 to Friday 30 October.

Who won the first Champions Showdown? Magnus Carlsen won the 2025 edition with 25½ points, ahead of Caruana, Nakamura and Gukesh.

Why is it called Clutch Chess? Because wins become more valuable each day, peaking at 3 points on day three, so late results can swing the title.

Sources: ChessBase, Saint Louis Chess Club, Vzglyad.uz