Grand Chess Tour

The Grand Chess Tour (GCT) is the premier international chess circuit, bringing together the world's top grandmasters for a season-long competition across multiple events. Founded with support from the Saint Louis Chess Club, the GCT has grown into one of the most prestigious series in competitive chess, offering over $2 million in annual prize money.

The tour spans classical, rapid, and blitz formats, giving players the chance to demonstrate mastery across all time controls. Events are held in major cities around the globe, including Saint Louis, Zagreb, and Bucharest, drawing packed audiences and millions of online viewers. Top players like Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, and Hikaru Nakamura have all been regular participants.

Each GCT season builds toward a standings-based finale, rewarding consistency across events rather than single-tournament performance. This format rewards players who can sustain elite-level play over months, making the GCT uniquely demanding and compelling to follow as a season-long narrative.

For chess fans, the Grand Chess Tour provides top-tier live broadcasts, expert commentary, and post-game analysis. Broadcasts are available free online, making world-class chess accessible to a global audience year-round.