The 2024 edition of one of the strongest international chess tournaments announces an exceptional line-up, with players already known to the Romanian public, but also with new names of chess players, in the cards to win the world title this year. Grandmasters will compete for $1.5 million in prizes. The Romanian stage – Superbet Chess Classic Romania will take place between June 24 and July 6.
Fabiano Caruana won the top prize of $100,000 last year in Bucharest
The Grand Chess Tour, one of the most important international chess circuits has announced its line-up for this year. For this year's edition, nine of the world's best chess players have been invited to participate in all five stages of the circuit – three of them qualified by virtue of placing in the top three places in the 2022 edition The other six were invited based on several criteria – position in the URS and FIDE rankings, fighting spirit and fair play.
All nine will play in all five legs of the circuit. Wildcards for the other players who will participate in the three stages of rapid and blitz will be announced when they are decided.
Here are the nine players:
Name Country Rating * FIDE Rating
GM Fabiano Caruana USA 2774 2789
GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave France 2750 2766
GM Wesley So USA 2755 2765
GM Gukesh Dommaraju India 2681 2719
GM Ian Nepomniachtchi FIDE 2771 2783
GM Alireza Firouzja France 2782 2774
GM Anish Giri Netherlands 2721 2743
GM Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa India 2709 2758
GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov Uzbekistan 2713 2759
*Score valid for February 2024
“We are proud to be able to come before the public with the ninth edition of this annual chess circuit. We have brought together the best chess players from around the world, so the tournament will highlight both the experience of renowned champions and the new generation arriving on the first world chess stage”, said Michael Khodarkovsky, Executive Director of GCT.
Here is the calendar of the entire competition in this year's edition:
Grand Chess Tour 2024
NAME PERIOD LOCATION
Superbet Rapid & Blitz Poland 6 – 13 May Warsaw, Poland
Superbet Chess Classic Romania June 24 – July 6 Bucharest, Romania
Super United Rapid & Blitz Croatia July 8 – 15 Zagreb, Croatia
Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz August 10 – 17 Saint Louis, USA
Sinquefield Cup August 17 – 31 Saint Louis, USA
Prizes for the entire circuit increased in 2024 to $1.5 million, of which $350,000 for the classic chess stages and $175,000 for the rapid & blitz stages. This year's edition will have a bonus prize fund increased from last year's $175,000 to $275,000.
The entire effort is supported by major sponsors – the Superbet Foundation and the Saint Louis Chess Club, both non-profit organizations that support chess education and GCT's mission to promote the sport of the mind in all corners of the world. From 2022, the Superbet Foundation became a global strategic partner of the Grand Chess Tour, by organizing three stages of the circuit – Bucharest, Warsaw and Zagreb.
“Since 2019, the Superbet Foundation has supported the Grand Chess Tour and actively invested in the development of talented chess players nationally and internationally. We are happy to announce our continued support for this circuit, which year after year ensures the presence of the world chess elite in Bucharest Warsaw and Zagreb in 2024. This strong commitment to chess reflects our belief that chess has the ability to cultivate critical skills , to promote diversity, including people of all ages and backgrounds“, said Augusta Dragic, president of the Superbet Foundation.
The Romanian Chess Federation will be co-organizer and partner of the Romanian stage.
The final format, along with the full list of players in the tournament and wildcards will be announced soon.
For more details and the latest news about the circuit, you can visit grandchesstour.org, superchess.ro and follow the Superbet Foundation and GCT social networks.
ABOUT THE SUPERBET FOUNDATION
The Superbet Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in 2019, coordinates the CSR initiatives of the Superbet Group. The purpose of the Foundation is to support progress in health, education and sports initiatives, with a special focus on promoting the game of chess in all the communities where we are present. Since 2019, it is also a strategic partner of the Romanian Chess Federation.
ABOUT THE GRAND CHESS TOUR
The GCT is an international chess circuit that brings together the world's best players year after year. The legendary Garry Kasparov, one of the greatest “ambassadors” of chess in the world, inspired the creation of the Grand Chess Tour and also contributed to strengthening the partnership between the organizers of the tournament.
