Speed Chess Championship

Magnus Carlsen, four-time speed chess champion.

Not to be confused with World Blitz Chess Championship or World Rapid Chess Championship.

The Speed Chess Championships are a family of annual blitz chess tournaments held and hosted by the online chess platform Chess.com.

History

The reigning Speed Chess Champion is Norwegian grandmaster Magnus Carlsen, who has won the main event four times out of six appearances. ^[1] American grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura, who has played in every single edition to date, won the event a record five times, consecutively from 2018 to 2022. ^[2] He had also reached every final until 2024, when he was knocked out in the semifinals for the first time. ^[3]

Since 2019, Chess.com has also held the Women's and Junior Speed Chess Championships. ^[4] Chinese grandmaster Ju Wenjun is the reigning Women's Speed Chess Champion, ^[5] and Indian grandmaster Gukesh D is the reigning Junior Speed Chess Champion. ^[6] In 2020, the Youth Speed Chess Championship and IM Not A GM Speed Chess Championship were introduced as further spin-off events. ^{[7] [8]}

The 2024 Finals, for the first time, were held live in Paris. The event attracted media attention due to the matchup between Carlsen and American grandmaster Hans Niemann, which was their first live meeting since their 2022 controversy. ^[9] Although the players were physically present at the venue, the games were played online on on-site computers in an esports-style format, with a live audience present. ^[1]

List of winners

Speed Chess Championship finals

No.	Year	Winner	Runner-up	Final score	Prize fund
1	2016	Magnus Carlsen	Hikaru Nakamura	14½-10½	$40,000
2	2017	Magnus Carlsen	Hikaru Nakamura	18-9	$50,000
3	2018	Hikaru Nakamura	Wesley So	15½-12½	$55,000
4	2019	Hikaru Nakamura	Wesley So	19½-14½	$50,000
5	2020	Hikaru Nakamura	Maxime Vachier-Lagrave	18½-12½	$100,000
6	2021	Hikaru Nakamura	Wesley So	23-8	$100,000
7	2022	Hikaru Nakamura	Magnus Carlsen	14½-13½	$100,000
8	2023	Magnus Carlsen	Hikaru Nakamura	13½-12½	$150,000
9	2024	Magnus Carlsen	Alireza Firouzja	23½-7½	$175,000

Nakamura has only ever lost four matches in the Speed Chess Championship; three against Carlsen, and one against Firouzja. Carlsen has only lost two matches, to Nakamura and Vachier-Lagrave.

Women's Speed Chess Championship finals

No.	Year	Winner	Runner-up	Final score	Prize fund
1	2019	Elina Danielian	Valentina Gunina	15-13	$20,000
2	2020	Anna Ushenina	Alexandra Kosteniuk	14½-13½	$52,000
3	2021	Hou Yifan	Harika Dronavalli	15-13	$66,000
4	2022	Kateryna Lagno	Hou Yifan	15-13	$70,000
5	2023	Hou Yifan	Harika Dronavalli	15-11	$75,000
6	2024	Ju Wenjun	Polina Shuvalova	12½-9½	$75,000
7	2025	Ju Wenjun	Hou Yifan	11.5-9.5

From 2020 to 2022, the Women's Speed Chess Championship was jointly presented by Chess.com and FIDE. ^{[10] [11]} The event originally served as a qualifier to the main Speed Chess Championship, just like the Junior Speed Chess Championship, but has since been held as a standalone event.

Events by year

2016

The inaugural event was called the Grandmaster Blitz Battle Championship. Carlsen, Nakamura, Vachier-Lagrave, World Blitz Champion Alexander Grischuk, Levon Aronian, Fabiano Caruana and Pentala Harikrishna were invited by Chess.com, while Tigran L. Petrosian entered through a qualifier event. ^[12] The format for the matches was 90 minutes of 5 minute games with an increment of 2 seconds, followed by 60 minutes of 3 minute games with an increment of 2 seconds, and finally 30 minutes of 1 minute games with a 1 second increment. The first game of each segment was a Chess960 game.

The final, held on October 27, was Carlsen's last public tournament appearance before the classical World Chess Championship 2016. Carlsen won the first segment by a score of 5½-3½, and extended his lead with a 5-2 win in the next segment. Although Nakamura won the final segment by a score of 5-4, Carlsen still won the match convincingly thanks to his wins in the first two segments. ^[13]

	Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Finals
	1	Magnus Carlsen	21
	8	Tigran L. Petrosian	4
						1	Magnus Carlsen	16
						4	Alexander Grischuk	8
	4	Alexander Grischuk	11½
	5	Levon Aronian	9½
											1	Magnus Carlsen	14½
											2	Hikaru Nakamura	10½
	2	Hikaru Nakamura	16
	7	Pentala Harikrishna	9
						2	Hikaru Nakamura	21½
						3	Maxime Vachier-Lagrave	10½
	3	Maxime Vachier-Lagrave	15½
	6	Fabiano Caruana	9½

2017

	Round of 16					Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Final
	1	Magnus Carlsen	20½
	16	Gadir Guseinov	5½
						1	Magnus Carlsen	27½
						8	Wesley So	9½
	8	Wesley So	15½
	9	Anish Giri	14½
											1	Magnus Carlsen	15½
											5	Alexander Grischuk	10½
	5	Alexander Grischuk	17½
	12	Richárd Rapport	9½
						5	Alexander Grischuk	16
						4	Maxime Vachier-Lagrave	13
	4	Maxime Vachier-Lagrave	19
	13	Jeffery Xiong	12
																1	Magnus Carlsen	18
																3	Hikaru Nakamura	9
	3	Hikaru Nakamura	20½
	14	Sergey Grigoriants	7½
						3	Hikaru Nakamura	17
						6	Fabiano Caruana	10
	6	Fabiano Caruana	19
	11	Hou Yifan	9
											3	Hikaru Nakamura	16½
											2	Sergey Karjakin	13½
	7	Ian Nepomniachtchi	15
	10	Levon Aronian	13
						7	Ian Nepomniachtchi	10
						2	Sergey Karjakin	20
	2	Sergey Karjakin	19
	15	Georg Meier	7

2018

	Round of 16					Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Final
	1	Hikaru Nakamura	27½
	16	Hou Yifan	2½
						1	Hikaru Nakamura	21½
						8	Maxime Vachier-Lagrave	13½
	8	Maxime Vachier-Lagrave	19
	9	Leinier Domínguez	12
											1	Hikaru Nakamura	17
											12	Levon Aronian	12
	5	Fabiano Caruana	6½
	12	Levon Aronian	20½
						12	Levon Aronian	18
						4	Anish Giri	11
	4	Anish Giri	17
	13	Shakhriyar Mamedyarov	15
																1	Hikaru Nakamura	15½
																2	Wesley So	12½
	3	Sergey Karjakin	11
	14	Jan-Krzysztof Duda	13
						14	Jan-Krzysztof Duda	14
						11	Alexander Grischuk	13
	6	Ian Nepomniachtchi	11½
	11	Alexander Grischuk	17½
											14	Jan-Krzysztof Duda	7
											2	Wesley So	22
	7	Zaven Andriasian	9
	10	Vidit Gujrathi	16
						10	Vidit Gujrathi	10½
						2	Wesley So	16½
	2	Wesley So	18½
	15	Wei Yi	9½

2019

	Round of 16					Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Final
	1	Hikaru Nakamura	27
	16	Vladimir Dobrov	8
						1	Hikaru Nakamura	15½
						8	Jan-Krzysztof Duda	11½
	8	Jan-Krzysztof Duda	14½
	9	Anish Giri	13½
											1	Hikaru Nakamura	17½
											4	Ian Nepomniachtchi	14½
	5	Ding Liren	19
	12	Sam Shankland	12
						5	Ding Liren	12
						4	Ian Nepomniachtchi	19
	4	Ian Nepomniachtchi	27
	13	Elina Danielian	2
																1	Hikaru Nakamura	19½
																10	Wesley So	14½
	3	Levon Aronian	13½
	14	Alireza Firouzja	12½
						3	Levon Aronian	9
						6	Vladislav Artemiev	16
	6	Vladislav Artemiev	16
	11	Alexander Grischuk	9
											6	Vladislav Artemiev	11½
											10	Wesley So	17½
	7	Shakhriyar Mamedyarov	12
	10	Wesley So	18
						10	Wesley So	17
						2	Maxime Vachier-Lagrave	15
	2	Maxime Vachier-Lagrave	21
	15	Wei Yi	10

2020

	Round of 16					Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Final
	1	Hikaru Nakamura	21
	16	Haik Martirosyan	5
						1	Hikaru Nakamura	21½
						9	Vladimir Fedoseev	5½
	8	Alireza Firouzja	14
	9	Vladimir Fedoseev	15
											1	Hikaru Nakamura	13½
											4	Wesley So	12½
	4	Wesley So	18
	13	Nodirbek Abdusattorov	10
						4	Wesley So	16
						5	Jan-Krzysztof Duda	10
	5	Jan-Krzysztof Duda	17
	12	Fabiano Caruana	9
																1	Hikaru Nakamura	18½
																3	Maxime Vachier-Lagrave	12½
	2	Magnus Carlsen	24
	15	Parham Maghsoodloo	5
						2	Magnus Carlsen	13½
						7	Vladislav Artemiev	9½
	7	Vladislav Artemiev	15½
	10	Anish Giri	11½
											2	Magnus Carlsen	11
											3	Maxime Vachier-Lagrave	13
	3	Maxime Vachier-Lagrave	16½
	14	Nihal Sarin	11½
						3	Maxime Vachier-Lagrave	14½
						11	Levon Aronian	12½
	6	Ian Nepomniachtchi	11
	11	Levon Aronian	14

2021

	Round of 16					Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Final
	1	Hikaru Nakamura	22
	16	Peter Svidler	10
						1	Hikaru Nakamura	18½
						8	Anish Giri	10½
	8	Anish Giri	14
	9	Jan-Krzysztof Duda	12
											1	Hikaru Nakamura	16½
											4	Ding Liren	15½
	4	Ding Liren	14
	13	Shakhriyar Mamedyarov	12
						4	Ding Liren	15
						5	Levon Aronian	11
	5	Levon Aronian	15
	12	Daniil Dubov	12
																1	Hikaru Nakamura	23
																3	Wesley So	8
	2	Richárd Rapport	16½
	15	Alexey Sarana	14½
						2	Richárd Rapport	9
						10	Nihal Sarin	18
	7	Alexander Grischuk	10½
	10	Nihal Sarin	15½
											10	Nihal Sarin	14
											3	Wesley So	15
	3	Wesley So	18
	14	Jeffery Xiong	14
						3	Wesley So	17½
						11	Fabiano Caruana	9½
	6	Maxime Vachier-Lagrave	12½
	11	Fabiano Caruana	13½

2022

Round of 16

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Final

Hikaru Nakamura

19½

David Paravyan

7½

Hikaru Nakamura

15½

Levon Aronian

8½

Levon Aronian

15

Dmitry Andreikin

14

Hikaru Nakamura

14½

Nihal Sarin

10½

Ding Liren

14

Alexander Grischuk

12

Ding Liren

9

Nihal Sarin

17

Nihal Sarin

15

Anish Giri

14

Hikaru Nakamura

14½

Magnus Carlsen

13½

Magnus Carlsen

23

Gukesh D

7

Magnus Carlsen

22

Fabiano Caruana

4

Fabiano Caruana

14½

Arjun Erigaisi

12½

Magnus Carlsen

17

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

9

Wesley So

14½

Nodirbek Abdusattorov

12½

Wesley So

12½

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

16½

Ian Nepomniachtchi

11½

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

19½

2023

Round of 16

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Final

Hikaru Nakamura

19

Yu Yangyi

9

Hikaru Nakamura

18½

Fabiano Caruana

8½

Fabiano Caruana

13½

Nodirbek Abdusattorov

10½

Hikaru Nakamura

16½

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

11½

Nihal Sarin

16

Alexey Sarana

10

Nihal Sarin

11½

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

19½

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

21½

Gukesh Dommaraju

8½

Hikaru Nakamura

12½

Magnus Carlsen

13½

Magnus Carlsen

17½

Vidit Gujrathi

8½

Magnus Carlsen

20½

Ian Nepomniachtchi

9½

Ian Nepomniachtchi

15½

Arjun Erigaisi

14½

Magnus Carlsen

22

Wesley So

7

Alireza Firouzja

13½

Dmitry Andreikin

12½

Alireza Firouzja

15½

Wesley So

16½

Wesley So

15½

Levon Aronian

12½

2024

Round of 16

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Final

Magnus Carlsen

20½

Tuan Minh Le

3½

Magnus Carlsen

12

Arjun Erigaisi

9

Jan-Krzysztof Duda

10

Arjun Erigaisi

12

Magnus Carlsen

17½

Hans Moke Niemann

12½

Wesley So

12

Denis Lazavik

10

Wesley So

10

Hans Moke Niemann

13

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

11½

Hans Moke Niemann

12½

Magnus Carlsen

23½

Alireza Firouzja

7½

Hikaru Nakamura

14

Jose Martinez

8

Hikaru Nakamura

14½

Ian Nepomniachtchi

9½

Ian Nepomniachtchi

13

Nodirbek Abdusattorov

11

Hikaru Nakamura

11

Alireza Firouzja

16

Alireza Firouzja

13½

Alexander Grischuk

10½

Alireza Firouzja

14½

Fabiano Caruana

8½

Fabiano Caruana

15

Alexey Sarana

8

References

1. Levin, Anthony (2024-09-08). "2024 SCC Final: Carlsen Proves He's The Best Again, Wins 4th SCC Title". Chess.com. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
2. West, Vanessa (2022-12-18). "Nakamura Wins 5th Speed Chess Championship". Chess.com. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
3. Colodro, Carlos Alberto (2024-09-07). "Speed Chess Championship: Carlsen and Firouzja advance to the final". ChessBase. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
4. "Nakamura Defeats So To Repeat As Speed Chess Champion". Chess.com. 2019-03-08. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
5. Colodro, Carlos Alberto (2024-09-05). "Ju Wenjun outscores Shuvalova, wins Women's Speed Chess Championship". ChessBase. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
6. West, Vanessa (2023-06-19). "Unbelievable Counterstrikes: Gukesh Wins 2023 JSCC". Chess.com. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
7. Klein, Mike (2020-03-04). "ChessKid.com Youth Speed Chess Championship Coming This Summer". Chess.com. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
8. "Saturday: IM Not A GM Speed Chess Championship Finals". Chess.com. 2020-04-14. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
9. Morse, Ben (2024-09-07). "Magnus Carlsen beats Hans Niemann in first match since infamous cheating scandal". CNN. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
10. "2021 Women's Speed Chess Championship Presented By FIDE And Chess.com". Chess.com. 2021-05-06. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
11. FIDE (2021-05-07). "FIDE Chess.com Women's Speed Chess Championship announced". International Chess Federation. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
12. Pete (2016-01-19). "The $40,000 GM Blitz Battle Championship". Chess.com. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
13. Klein, Mike (2016-10-27). "Carlsen Beats Nakamura To Win GM Blitz Battle Championship". Chess.com. Retrieved 2024-09-10.