PRO Chess League

Last updated
Professional Rapid Online Chess League (PRO Chess League)
Most recent season or competition:
2023
Formerly United States Chess League
Sport Chess
First season2017
Ceased2024
Commissioner Greg Shahade
No. of teams32
CountryInternational
Last
champion(s)		Gotham Knights (1st title)
Most titlesSt. Louis Arch Bishops (2 titles)
Broadcaster(s) Twitch
Related
competitions		Speed Chess Championship
Official website www.prochessleague.com

The Professional Rapid Online Chess League (PRO Chess League and abbreviated PCL) was an online rapid chess league operated by Chess.com. It was preceded by the United States Chess League, which announced in 2016 that it would be renamed, reformatted, and opened to cities from around the world, and moved to the website chess.com. [1] [2] It was discontinued in 2024. [3]

Contents

In its inaugural season, the PCL comprised 48 teams, whose members included some of the highest-rated chess players in the world, including the reigning world champion Magnus Carlsen, and other elite players including Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Hikaru Nakamura, and Wesley So plus over 100 other grandmasters. [4] The 48 teams represent cities in five continents. [4] [5]

Teams

CountryTeam 2017
(48)		 2018
(32)		 2019
(32)		2020
()		2021
()		2023
()		Total
appearances		Total
championships
Flag of Argentina.svg  ARG Buenos Aires KrakensQF8th in division0
Flag of Argentina.svg  ARG Patagonia Penguins9th in division0
Flag of Armenia.svg  ARM Armenia Eagles1stDSQ1
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Australia KangaroosQF0
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Montreal ChessbrahsSF7th in division0
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Toronto DragonsL240
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  CHN Chengdu Pandas2nd0
Flag of England.svg  ENG London LionsL166th in division0
Flag of England.svg  ENG London TowersL168th in division0
Flag of Estonia.svg  EST Estonia HorsesL160
Flag of France.svg  FRA Cannes BlockbustersL24L160
Flag of France.svg  FRA Marseille MigrainesQFQF0
Flag of Germany.svg  GER Hamburg Swashbucklers7th in division0
Flag of Hungary.svg  HUN Budapest GambitL160
Flag of India.svg  IND Amaravati Yodhas10th in division0
Flag of India.svg  IND Delhi DynamiteL16L160
Flag of India.svg  IND Mumbai MoversL24QF0
Flag of India.svg  IND Odisha Express9th in division0
Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Doblin Desperados10th in division0
Flag of Iceland.svg  ISL Reykjavik Puffins9th in division7th in division0
Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  KAZ Shymkent Nomads11th in division0
Flag of Latvia.svg  LAT Riga MagiciansL247th in division0
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  NED Amsterdam MosquitoesL245th in division0
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  NED Apeldoorn Apres8th in division0
Flag of Nigeria.svg  NGR Abuja Rockstars11th in division0
Flag of Nigeria.svg  NGR Lagos Leatherbacks12th in division0
Flag of Norway.svg  NOR Norway Gnomes2nd5th in division0
Flag of Norway.svg  NOR Oslo Trolls8th in division0
Flag of South Africa.svg  RSA Johannesburg Koeksisters12th in division0
Flag of Russia.svg  RUS Gorky Stormbringers (2017)
Volga Stormbringers (2018-)		QF6th in division0
Flag of Slovenia.svg  SLO Ljubljana Direwolves7th in division0
Flag of Slovenia.svg  SLO Ljubljana Turtles4th0
Flag of Serbia.svg  SRB Belgrade Sparrows8th in division0
Flag of Sweden.svg  SWE Stockholm SnowballsSFL160
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Atlanta Kings10th in division0
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Carolina Cobras11th in division0
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Columbus Cardinals12th in division0
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Dallas DestinyL24L160
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Las Vegas Desert Rats7th in division8th in division0
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Miami ChampionsL166th in division0
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Minnesota Blizzard8th in divisionQF0
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Montclair SopranosL165th in division0
Flag of the United States.svg  USA New Jersey Knockouts7th in division0
Flag of the United States.svg  USA New York Knights8th in division0
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Philadelphia InventorsL240
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Pittsburgh Pawngrabbers11th in divisionL160
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Portland Rain12th in division0
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Rio Grande OspreysL247th in division0
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Saint Louis Arch Bishops1st3rd1st1st3
Flag of the United States.svg  USA San Diego SurfersL16L160
Flag of the United States.svg  USA San Francisco Mechanics10th in division0
Flag of the United States.svg  USA San Jose HackersL165th in division0
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Seattle Sluggers9th in division6th in division0
Flag of the United States.svg  USA Webster WindmillsQFL160

Format

The league had a variety of formats over its history, but there were some consistent points throughout. Matches were played between teams of 4 players using the scheveningen system, pitting each team member against every player from the opposing team. Teams had a rating cap (usually 2500) to ensure balanced matchups.

Teams were split into geographical divisions (Central & Western for Europe & West/Central Asia, and Atlantic & Pacific for the Americas, East Asia & the Pacific nations)

The time control was 15+2 in the first seasons, but this changed to 10+2 for the later seasons. [6]

History

2017–present

The first season started on January 11, 2017, and ended March 26, 2017. [7] [8] 48 teams participated, twelve of which had previously participated in the USCL. After the end of the first season, the St. Louis Arch Bishops defeated the Norway Gnomes, thus securing their first title. [9] Wesley So won MVP. The PCL has a total prize fund of $50,000 compared to a prize fund of $10,000 in the USCL. [10] In its second season, Greg Shahade introduced and new qualifications to join the league and an All-Star Game.

Championship history

PRO Chess League Champions
TeamYear
Flag of the United States.svg St. Louis Arch Bishops (1)
Flag of Armenia.svg Armenia Eagles (1)
Flag of the United States.svg St. Louis Arch Bishops (2)
Flag of the United States.svg St. Louis Arch Bishops (3)
2020
Flag of Russia.svg Russia Wizards (1)
2021
Flag of the United States.svg Gotham Knights (1)
2023

Critic response

Supporters say the league's worldwide distribution, the prize money, and the participation of many of the world's top-rated players may create a new level of competition and awareness for the game. It is anticipated that the new formats are leading to a "rise in popularity of online and rapid chess". In addition, the PCL has the potential to dramatically change chess culture and could lead to corporate sponsorships. This change from an "individual and slow game," to a relatively quick and team format, has made the offering more viewer friendly. [5]

In a 2017 article, Greg Shahade made a similar statement to what Eric Rosen mentioned. Shahade talked about the league featuring worldwide team competition, using the scheveningen system which gives lower rated players the chance to pull upset each week, and having the chance to "revolutionize chess". [11] [12]

In an article written by ESPN, Viswanathan Anand spoke about how convenient it was to play online compared to playing over-the-board. [13]

Here you don't get together with the team the previous night to discuss strategy, so it's far more improvised. In all leagues you play one game a day. Here you play four, so you're very alive to the evolving score.

—  Viswanathan Anand, article by ESPN [13]

References

  1. ↑ Doggers, Peter (August 25, 2016). "U.S. Chess League Becomes PRO Chess League". United States Chess Federation . Retrieved February 12, 2017. The Professional Rapid Online (PRO) Chess League is the combined vision of what the USCL and Chess.com see as the future of high-stakes, top-level, entertaining chess. Unlike its predecessor, the USCL, the PRO Chess League will have faster time controls, provide more flexibility in forming and managing teams, and allow for "free agent" acquisitions from all over the world. The fundamental goal will remain promoting the growth and togetherness of the... local community chess clubs.
  2. ↑ "Pro Chess League". QuantumGambitz. January 2, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  3. ↑ "An Update About The Pro Chess League". Chess.com. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  4. 1 2 Copeland, Sam (December 24, 2016). "48 Teams, Over 100 Grandmasters To Play PRO Chess League". United States Chess Federation. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  5. 1 2 Rosen, Eric (January 19, 2017). "PRO Chess League: Bringing Chess into Mainstream Sports Culture". KWMU National Public Radio . Retrieved February 12, 2017. While it's hard to say whether chess will ever become as popular as major sports, I wouldn't be surprised if the PRO Chess league creates a popularity surge in chess in the years to come.
  6. ↑ "Home".
  7. ↑ US Chess (January 9, 2017). "The PRO Chess League Begins on Wednesday". United States Chess Federation. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  8. ↑ PROChessLeague (December 19, 2016). "2017 PRO Chess League Schedule". United States Chess Federation. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  9. ↑ "St. Louis Arch Bishops Win Inaugural PRO League Title". 26 March 2017.
  10. ↑ Rensch, Daniel (January 10, 2017). "PRO Chess League Prize Fund Increased To $50k+". United States Chess Federation. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  11. ↑ Shahade, Greg (January 9, 2017). "The Top 10 Reasons You Should be Watching the PRO Chess League". wordpress.com. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  12. ↑ "The PRO Chess League Returns on Saturday! - US Chess". US Chess. 2017-10-27. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
  13. 1 2 "Pro Chess: In a 'league' of its own". 17 February 2018.
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