Getting ready for the WR Chess Masters Cup 2024!

he WR Chess Masters Cup is set to take place from October 14th to 18th, 2024, at the prestigious Langham Hotel in London. As the second edition of the WR Chess Masters series, this event will feature 16 elite players competing in a knockout tournament.

WR Chess, known for its dedication to expanding the chess community, continues to organize events on the global stage. Following last year’s success in Düsseldorf, Germany, the London event promises to be a highlight on the international chess calendar.

Among the key participants is the Indian star Arjun Erigaisi after his meteoric rise to number three in the world ranking with an Elo close to 2800. Another notable player is Alexandra Kosteniuk, the former Women’s World Chess Champion, who will compete against some of the best players in the world.

Viswanathan Anand. | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Viswanathan Anand, the five-time World Champion, also returns to the board, adding to the star-studded lineup. With former World Champion Veselin Topalov, there’s another legend of the game part of the field.

Young stars like Alireza Firouzja, Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Praggnanandhaa will test their skills against these giants, making the tournament an exciting clash of generations.Shreyas Royal, the youngest English grandmaster, and wondergirl Bodhana Sivanandan (9) will have the opportunity to compete in an elite field for the first time.

Alireza Firouzja. | Photo: Lennart Ootes

The tournament format is designed to test the players' endurance and skill. Each match will consist of two games, with a time control of 60 minutes for the first 30 moves, 30 minutes for the next 20 moves, and 30 minutes for the rest of the game. The fastest possible classical time control makes it possible that both of these games will be played in one day. The WR Chess Masters Cup ist the first event with this innovative time control.

In case of a tie after the two games, the winner will be decided through a bidding Armageddon tiebreaker, where players secretly bid for time. The player with the lower bid will play Black and only needs a draw to win, while White must win with 15 minutes on the clock.

Over four intense rounds from the quarterfinals to the final, chess fans can expect high-level play and dramatic showdowns as some of the world’s best players battle for the title.

Participants:

Viswanathan Anand
Veselin Topalov
Alexandra Kosteniuk
Nodirbek Abdusattorov
R. Vaishali
Alireza Firouzja
Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa
Vidit Gujrathi
Parham Maghsoodloo
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Arjun Erigaisi
Bodhana Sivanandan
Javokhir Sindarov
Raunak Sadhwani
Victor Bologan
Shreyas Royal