After 10 years of nail-biting chess, star rivalries, and dramatic matches, we're excited to announce
Speed Chess Championship XI
(SCC)! The event starts in
November
and features a
$250,000 prize fund
, along with
up to 150 Champions Chess Tour Leaderboard points
.
In 2016, stars such as GMs
Magnus Carlsen
,
Hikaru Nakamura
, and
Fabiano Caruana
came together for the first time to play for $40,000 and the title of best online speed chess player. That year, the Speed Chess Championship was born—and the online competitive landscape changed forever.
"Over the past 10 years, the Speed Chess Championship has given fans extraordinary matches, unforgettable comebacks, and the very best players in the world pushing each other to their limits," said Michael Brancato, Chess.com's Events Commissioner. "SCC XI is a celebration of all those moments and the community that gives them meaning."
Fans can join a roaring audience at the
live finals in London, England
, on
February 5 to 7, 2027
. The competition will take place at 180 Studios—the same stage where Carlsen defeated GM
Alireza Firouzja
to claim his fifth title. Get your tickets now and be there for this historic moment for online chess!
Get Your Tickets
Since 2016, the SCC has not only helped professionalize online chess competitions, but it has also become the stage for one of the fiercest rivalries of our time. In all its history, just two players have claimed the title of the world's best online speed chess player. Carlsen won the first two editions, then Nakamura reigned in the speed chess world from 2018 to 2022—his last title coming after a thrilling Final win over the Norwegian. Carlsen then reclaimed the crown in 2023 and won again in 2024 and 2025, matching Nakamura's record.
Nakamura and Carlsen are both returning to play in the SCC this year and, as the world's most prominent speed chess players, are likely to meet again this season. With each player holding five titles, this might be the year one of them finally pulls ahead.
However, the two legends won't be the only players gunning for the title. Speed specialists Firouzja and GM
Denis Lazavik
, the only two players besides Carlsen to beat Nakamura in an SCC match, are also joining the field. They'll be out for revenge on the world number-one, who beat Lazavik in the 2025 Semifinal and Firouzja in the Final in both 2024 and 2025.
Making his SCC debut is one of the year's most celebrated players, GM
Javokhir Sindarov
. The Uzbekistani star has had a tremendous year, rising to world number-four. The current World Championship challenger will now look to break Carlsen and Nakamura's grip on the SCC.
Fans can expect to see more of the world's most dangerous speed chess players participating. India's number-one and number-four, GMs
Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu
and
Nihal Sarin
, alongside Turkiye's prodigy GM
Yagiz Erdogmus
, are joining the action.
The United States' number-two and number-three, GMs Caruana and
Wesley So
; Uzbekistan's number-two GM
Nodirbek Abdusattorov
;
2024 finalist GM
Hans Niemann
; blitz specialist GM
Dmitry Andreikin
; up-and-coming 16-year-old GM
Sina Movahed
;
and former world top-10 GM
Vladislav Artemiev
round out the field.
The event will follow the traditional format that has captivated players and fans alike. Sixteen of the world's best players will compete in a knockout, with every match featuring two blitz and one bullet section.
Since its debut, the SCC has grown into Chess.com's most prestigious event. From an experimental online showdown between elite grandmasters, the event has evolved into an esports spectacle, complete with a live audience cheering for their heroes. Now, it is a critical stepping stone to the world's largest esports competition, the Esports World Cup (EWC)—winning the SCC nets 150 CCT Leaderboard points, a considerable advantage for players seeking one of 12 EWC spots coming from the CCT.
Who do you think will win the Speed Chess Championship XI? Let us know in the comments below!