Eight of the world’s top chess grandmasters will compete in the 2024 XTX Markets London Chess Classic (LCC) from November 29 to December 7. The line-up includes:
- Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun
- Olympiad gold-medallist and 2024 Candidate Vidit Gujrathi
- England’s number-two Nikita Vitiugov
- British Champion Gawain Jones
- England’s youngest-ever Grandmaster Shreyas Royal
- 8-time British Champion Michael Adams
- Former World Rapid Champion Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
- One more star to be announced
Spectators will be able to visit the Emirates to watch all the action with expert commentary from 8-times Russian Champion GM Peter Svidler. Tickets can be booked here.
As well as taking part in the elite tournament, our Grandmasters will also compete in the Super Blitz, the ProBiz Cup, and will take on our guests in a simultaneous display at the LCC Closing Dinner, the latter two events raising money to support the work of CSC around the country.
Compete alongside the GMs
The XTX Markets London Chess Classic offers many opportunities for competitive chess, including:
- FIDE Masters – a 9-round Swiss tournament for those seeking title norms
- FIDE U-2000 – a 9-round Swiss tournament for players who are either unrated or rated below 2000
- Weekend Rapidplays – 7-round rapidplay tournaments open to all players
- Blitz Qualifiers – 4 evening tournaments, in which the winners will gain a place in the Super Blitz finals alongside our elite Grandmasters.
In addition, there will be Simultaneous Displays featuring well-known Grandmasters, and social chess events each evening. For more details of all these events, please see the LCC website.
A special day out for schools
Each weekday, CSC will be welcoming 200 children from our Schools’ Programme to the XTX Markets London Chess Classic. The children will enjoy a day of chess activities including:
- lessons from a CSC tutor
- simultaneous games against chess experts
- the chance to meet and possibly play a game against a Grandmaster
- a tournament against their peers from around the country.
Invitations are currently being sent out by CSC’s regional organisers and we already have acceptances from schools in Leeds, Manchester, London, and Liverpool.
Other CSC News
While preparations for the XTX Markets London Chess Classic in December are now in full flow, it’s been a busy time for the charity already this term. Highlights include:
- hosting 30 children each day at the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League at Friend’s House, central London,
- joining ChessKid for a simultaneous game against the strongest female player of all time, Judit Polgar,
- holding a tournament for schools at the Lord Mayor’s Parlour in Westminster City Hall,
- putting on the 6th event in the CSC Junior Grand Prix,
- arranging a simultaneous display by Ginger GM Simon Williams at Wandsworth Prison,
- showcasing the charity’s activities at St Alban’s Abbey,
- delivering weekly chess lessons in over 300 schools through our Schools’ Programme.
To find out more about how CSC can support chess at your school, library, prison, or community setting, please visit the CSC website.
