The Grand Chess Tour Finals 2025 are here, and this time the excitement is hitting Sao Paulo, Brazil, from September 28 to October 3. This is the grandest event of the year for chess fans because only the top four players from the season made it to this knockout battle. The event schedule is packed.
Opening with the semifinals from September 28 to 29, the finals happen on October 1 and 2, and on October 3, there will be rapid, blitz, playoffs, and the closing ceremony. The battles are intense and continuous, so players need stamina and sharp minds. So, let’s take a look at the key details, format, prize money and much more for the final showdown!
Grand Chess Tour Finals 2025 Players
First off, the players here are the best of the best; giants like Fabiano Caruana, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, Levon Aronian, and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave have earned their spots through fierce competition all season. The Grand Chess Tour Finals are no friendly games; it’s a high-stakes fight where every move counts.
Grand Chess Tour Finals 2025 Format
Now, the format is pretty cool and mixes things up with different game speeds. Each match between two players has eight games: two classical, two rapid, and four blitz games. The scoring system is also unique. Classical game wins get 6 points, draws get 3, and losses get nothing. For a rapid, winning net 4 points, a draw 2 points, and a loss zero.
Blitz games give 2 points for a win, 1 for a draw, and nothing for a loss. To win a match, you need at least 15 points out of the 28 possible. And yep, every game is played no matter what, the suspense stays alive till the last move.
Talking about time controls, the classical games are the longest, with 90 minutes for 40 moves plus 30 more minutes for the rest of the game and a 30-second increment per move. Rapid games move faster: 25 minutes each with a 10-second increment. Blitz is lightning-fast, 5 minutes with a 2-second increment. This mix tests players’ skills across different pressures and speeds.
Grand Chess Tour Finals 2025 Prize Money
Now, the prize money is nothing to scoff at. The total prize fund is $350,000. The winner takes home a whopping $150,000, the runner-up gets $100,000, third place bags $60,000, and the fourth player still earns $40,000. It’s a big payday that matches the prestige of this epic final.
So, whether you’re a chess fanatic or just curious about how the top grandmasters duel it out, the Grand Chess Tour Finals 2025 promise thrilling games, nail-biting tension, and some top-class chess entertainment. Keep your eyes on Sao Paulo for all the action!
Also read: Revealed: Full List Of Confirmed Players In Candidates Tournaments 2026 Yet
