The Champions Chess Tour is a curious circuit where the best players in the world go head-to-head with competition all year long. Read on as we dive into everything you need to know for every iteration of the Champions Chess Tour.
Top Chess Betting Sites
For the past few years, esports betting sites have embraced chess as an interesting category of bets:
Please gamble responsibly.
Tournaments Overview

Let’s take a look at the tournament schedule for the Champions Chess Tour this season:
Champions Chess Tour 2025 | Schedule | Prize Pool |
---|---|---|
Chessable Masters | 16-21st February 2025 | $150,000 |
Leg 2/May Event | 18-23rd May 2025 | $80,000 |
Esports World Cup | 31st July to 3rd August 2025 | $1,500,000 |
With regards to the format for the events, here’s a look at the typical format for the Champions Chess Tour tournaments with esports odds:
- Qualifier – BO1 Swiss System, top teams progress to Play-In Swiss Phase
- Play-In Swiss Phase – BO1 Swiss System, seeding into Play-In Match Play Phase and Playoffs
- Play-In Match Play Phase – BO2 Single Elimination
- Playoffs – double elimination, BO4 and BO2 matches
For each tournament, a set number of invited players are joined by teams that seed from open play.
CCT Points & Esports World Cup

Throughout the season, players earn Champions Chess Tour points to earn a seeding at the most important event of the season – the Esports World Cup.
Specifically, with $1,500,000, this event has received a tonne of attention from esports players, organizations and betting sites. Here’s how teams can qualify for the Esports World Cup:
- 12 teams – top-ranked teams according to CCT Points
- 4 teams – Last Chance Qualifier
Throughout the season, we recommend tuning into esports betting sites such as GG.Bet.
Moreover, here are some esports organizations to watch out for:
- Gen.G – Arjun Erigaisi
- Misfits Gaming – Hikaru Nakamura
- Team Liquid – Fabiano Caruana
- AG Global – Volodar Murzin
- Team Vitality – Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
- Team Liquid – Magnus Carlsen
How to Watch the Champions Chess Tour
Tune into all of the live-action with the following broadcasts:
Image Credits: PGL