The Chessable Masters, the inaugural tournament of the 2025 Champions Chess Tour, opened with a bang against the backdrop of the whirlwind season of big elite chess events. The players include Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura as well as India's Arjun Erigaisi, among others, in their quest for the coveted CCT points and the heavy prize pool of $150,000. Here's everything about the aptly entertaining tournament.
Chessable Masters: A HighStakes Clash
The tournament began on 16 February, with this event acting as the first of two online activities as part of the 2025 Champions Chess Tour. It is this kind of event that may help propel players into the Esports World Championshipsgiving away $1.5 million as grand prize. Added into the format this year is a faster time control of 10+0, which is sure to bring a few spices into the games.
The structure of CCT points was reserved for only two online events. Thus, single move now counts the top twelve on the CCT Leaderboard will earn their place in the Esports World Cup, and the Chessable Masters one has always been the one to watch out for by chess enthusiasts worldwide.
Big Names in Attendance
The tournament has, to its credit, a stellar cast of chess greats: Magnus Carlsen has always been a tough customer, fivetime Tour Champion and world No. 1; followed by Hikaru Nakamura, great speed chess master of great repute. Other names in this starstudded lineup include Ian Nepomniachtchi (twotime finalist in the world championship), Wesley So (threetime U.S. Champion), and India's very own Arjun Erigaisi.
After the playoffs on the first day, four qualified players for the Winners' Bracket: Magnus Carlsen, Arjun Erigaisi, Hikaru Nakamura, and Alireza Firouzja. Erigaisi's performance awes Indian fans as he prepares to face Carlsen in a muchanticipated clash.
Winners' Bracket: Clash of Titans
These are the matches that most matters in the tournament in the Winners' Bracket. This is going to be Arjun Erigaisi's first step into the elite circle where he belongs which he has very well deservedly made on this platform, the first opponent being none other than Magnus Carlsena test of strength and thought.
As if that was not enough, the icing on the cake of drama is Hikaru Nakamura facing Alireza Firouzja in the Winners' Bracket.
Losers' Bracket: A Fight to Survive
Fabiano Caruana, Ian Nepomniachtchi, JanKrzysztof Duda, and Anish Giri have only four of the tournament elites to place themselves in the Losers' Bracket immediately after the first day of playoffs. These players had learned through bitter experience the truth that miracles would have to happen before they would get to have even a drop of credit added to their names where that very prestigious title is concerned having had two losses.
Every single move can make the difference between going on or going home in the contest, a savage as the action at the Losers' Bracket.
What Comes After?
Day two of playoffs will start on Wednesday, February 19, at 9:30 p.m. IST. This will end up being one of the final days of action at the tournament come Friday, February 21, when a single winnerchampion of Chessable Masterswill emerge out of the competition.
All eyes will be focused on the spectacle of Arjun Erigaisi versus Magnus Carlsen, and it certainly is promising! Is this going to be Erigaisi's upset against the world's number one, or does Carlsen's reign continue? All eyes will have to be glued on this one across the chess world.
A Tournament to Remember
From the opening point of the tour of 2025, champions in chessthe Chessable Mastershave been most beautifully displayed. CCT points and an Esports World Cup are earned here by the best players in the world; hence, that viewing won't have to miss this tournament as it is going to be hot in the next few days with the clashes along this road to the Esports World Cup, filled with fireworks, suspense, and memories to treasure. Be sure to register for all and not miss any action with the world's best chess players fighting for supremacy!