All You Need to Know about Armageddon Championship Series: Grand Finale
The world of chess is buzzing with excitement as the Armageddon Championship Series: Grand Finale approaches, promising a week of intense battles, strategic brilliance, and nail-biting drama in Berlin, Germany. Let’s dive deep into the details of this thrilling chess event, which promises to be a heart-pounding, strategic showdown like no other.
A Year-Long Journey Culminates
Chess enthusiasts around the globe have been following the action closely as top-tier players battled their way through regional qualifiers and a special Women’s Week to earn their spot in the Grand Finale.
From September 14th to 20th, the chess world will be fixated on Berlin, where best chess players will engage in a seven-day, double-elimination contest under intense time pressure. Their ultimate goal? To secure the prestigious Armageddon Championship Title and compete for a prize fund of €200,000.
A Unique Format: The Armageddon
What sets the Armageddon Championship Series apart is its unique format. Each day of the Grand Finale will feature matchups consisting of two blitz games, each with a three-minute base time and a two-second move increment.
But what happens in the event of a tie? That’s where the excitement reaches its peak. An Armageddon game will decide the winner. In this decisive battle, White gets five minutes, while Black has only four minutes to make their moves. It’s a format that promises heart-stopping drama until the very last move.
Meet the Grandmasters
The Grand Finale features a lineup of chess prodigies and accomplished masters, each with their unique achievements and strengths. Here’s a glimpse of the players:
- GM Wesley So (blitz rating: 2765), USA — winner of the Armageddon Championship Series: Americas
- GM Sam Shankland (blitz rating: 2668), USA — runner-up in the Armageddon Series: Americas
- GM Gukesh D (blitz rating: 2659), India — winner of the Armageddon Championship Series: Asia & Oceania
- GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov (blitz rating: 2708), Uzbekistan — runner-up in the Armageddon Championship Series: Asia & Oceania
- IM Bibisara Assaubayeva (blitz rating: 2478), Kazakhstan — winner of the Armageddon Championship Series: Women’s Week
- GM Humpy Koneru (blitz rating: 2448), India — runner-up in the Armageddon Championship Series: Women’s
- GM Richard Rapport (blitz rating: 2748), Romania — winner of the Armageddon Championship Series: Europe & Africa
- GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda (blitz rating: 2751), Poland — runner-up in the Armageddon Championship Series: Europe & Africa
Unprecedented Prize Fund
The stakes are high, and so is the prize fund. The Armageddon Championship Series: Grand Finale boasts a prize fund that reflects the event’s significance. Here’s a breakdown of the rewards:
1st Place: €80,000
2nd Place: €40,000
3rd-4th Places: €20,000 each
5th-8th Places: €10,000 each
Every participant has their eyes on these impressive rewards, and the competition promises to be fierce.
The Finalists Already have the following:
Winners:
Wesley So — 18 000 EUR
Gukesh D — 18 000 EUR
Bibisara Assaubayeva — 18 000 EUR
Richard Rapport — 18 000 EUR
Runners-up:
Sam Shankland — 8 000 EUR
Nodirbek Abdusattorov — 8 000 EUR
Humpy Koneru — 8 000 EUR
Jan-Krzysztof Duda — 8 000 EUR
An Exhilarating Viewing Experience and Commentary team
But it’s not just the players who are in for an unforgettable experience. Spectators can expect a thrilling time as well. Real-time tracking of players’ heart rates and expended calories will provide unique insights into the intensity of the matches. Lightning-fast moves and cutting-edge analysis from GM Simon Williams and WGM Jovanka Houska will elevate the viewing experience to new heights.
To catch all the action, chess enthusiasts can tune in to World Chess YouTube channel or any of the 17 global television platforms broadcasting the event.
Schedule
Day 1. September 14, 19:00 CEST
Gukesh D — Wesley So
Jan-Krzysztof Duda — Sam Shankland
Day 2. September 15, 19:00 CEST
Nodirbek Abdusattorov — Richard Rapport
Humpy Koneru — Bibisara Assaubayeva
Day 3. September 16, 19:00 CEST
Day 4. September 17, 19:00 CEST
Day 5. September 18, 19:00 CEST
Day 6. September 19, 19:00 CEST
Day 7. September 20, 19:00 CEST
Website
Join the excitiments, visit chessarena.com/armageddon/finale
