The 2024 Speed Chess Championship is fast approaching—and this year it will end with a live, in-person final staged in Paris. For the first time, Chess.com is taking the climax of its flagship fast time control event offline.
The French capital will play host to the Winners and Losers finals and then the Grand Final as the top four battle it out for the ultimate title in speed chess. A prize pool of $175,000 is at stake across the whole tournament, which will run in three stages starting in June and finishing in September.
Live commentary of the final stage will be provided from ESpot, the city’s new esports arena, from September 6 to 8 and fans will be able watch the action in person.
The live finals will follow the 16-player Main Event held online from July 25 to August 9. Seven of the world’s top speed chess players are already confirmed by invitation.
GM Hikaru Nakamura returns to reclaim the title he has won a record six times—but lost in 2023 to his great rival, three-time winner GM Magnus Carlsen.