The Grand Chess Tour Returns In 2021

Saint Louis, MO, December 10, 2020 – The Grand Chess Tour (GCT) is scheduled to return in 2021 and will feature the same five tournaments and format that was originally planned for the 2020 edition of the tour. Tour participants will compete for a total prize fund of $1.275 million over the course of the 2021 season. The prize money for the two classical tournaments will be $325,000 per event while the prize fund for the rapid and blitz events will be $150,000 each. In addition, a bonus prize fund totaling $175,000 will be awarded to the top three overall tour finishers.

Following the success of the 2019 Superbet Rapid and Blitz tournament in Bucharest, the Romanian capital will host the first classical event of the 2021 season in June. The 2021 Sinquefield Cup will be in August and will conclude the final leg of the tour. Between the two classical events are three rapid and blitz events, Paris, France, Zagreb, Croatia and Saint Louis, USA. There will not be a “GCT Finals” tournament in 2021; the final tour standings will be decided based on the GCT points each tour player accumulates over the course of the five tournaments.

Event dates have been coordinated with FIDE to ensure that there will be no clashes with FIDE’s major events including the conclusion of the Candidates tournament, the World Championship Match and the expanded FIDE World Cup.

The major sponsors of the 2021 Grand Chess Tour are the Superbet Foundation, Vivendi SA, Colliers International and the Saint Louis Chess Club.

The full tour participants will play in both classical events as well as in two of the three rapid and blitz events. Ten wildcards will be extended to selected players to participate in the rapid and blitz events. The full schedule for the 2021 GCT season (including arrival and departure days) is as follows:

1.    Superbet Chess Classic Romania: June 3 – 15, 2021, Bucharest, Romania
2.    Paris Rapid & Blitz: June 16 – 23, 2021, Paris, France
3.    Croatia Rapid & Blitz: July 5 – 12, 2021, Zagreb, Croatia
4.    St Louis Rapid & Blitz: August 9 – 16, 2021, St. Louis, Missouri USA
5.    Sinquefield Cup: August 16 – 28, 2021, St. Louis, Missouri USA

Tour invitations have been extended to the selected participants and further announcements regarding the final composition of the 2021 field and season will be made as they become available.