2025 AMERICAN CUP | OVERVIEW
The Saint Louis Chess Club is proud to present the 2025 American Cup, once again featuring its exciting double-elimination format. This tournament brings the nation’s top chess players to America's chess capital, competing in a fierce do-or-die battle for $400,000 in total prize money. Fans can expect memorable matches, thrilling upsets, and epic comebacks from the best U.S. players as they vie for the title.
| DATES | March 15 - 24, 2025 |
|---|---|
| LOCATION | World Chess Hall of Fame |
| FORMAT | Two 8-Player Double Eliminations |
| TIME CONTROL | Championship Bracket: G/90+30 (classical) & G/25+10 (rapid) & G/3+2(blitz playoffs) |
| Elimination Bracket: G/25+10 | |
| PRIZE FUND | $400,000 |
| DATE | TIME | CHAMPION'S BRACKET | ELIMINATION BRACKET |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, March 15 | 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Match 1-4 Game 1 (classical) | - |
| Sunday, March 16 | 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Match 1-4 Game 2 (classical) | - |
| 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM | Match 1-4 Playoff | - | |
| Monday, March 17 | 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Match 7-8 Game 1 (classical) |
Match 5-6 Game 1 (rapid) [12:00 PM - 2:00 PM] Match 5-6 Game 2 (rapid) [2:00 PM - 4:00 PM] Match 5-6 Playoff [4:00 PM - 6:00 PM] |
| Tuesday, March 18 | 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Match 7-8 Game 2 (classical) | - |
| 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM | Match 7-8 Playoff | - | |
| Wednesday, March 19 | 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Match 11 Game 1 (classical) |
Match 9-10 Game 1 [12:00 PM - 2:00 PM] Match 9-10 Game 2 [2:00 PM - 4:00 PM] Match 9-10 Playoff [4:00 PM - 6:00 PM] |
| Thursday, March 20 | 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Match 11 Game 2 (classical) |
Match 12 Game 1 [12:00 PM - 2:00 PM] Match 12 Game 2 [2:00 PM - 4:00 PM] Match 12 Playoff [4:00 PM - 6:00 PM] |
| 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM | Match 11 Playoff | - | |
| Friday, March 21 | 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM | - | Match 13 Game 1 |
| 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM | - | Match 13 Game 2 | |
| 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM | - | Match 13 Playoff | |
| Saturday, March 22 | 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Match 14 Game 1 (classical) | - |
| Sunday, March 23 | 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Match 14 Game 2 (classical) | - |
| 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM | Match 14 Playoff | - | |
| Monday, March 24 | 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM | American Cup Blitz | |
| 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM | - | Match 15* Game 1 (rapid) | |
| 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM | - | Match 15 Game 2 (rapid) | |
| 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM | - | Match 15 Playoff | |
| * Match 15 is only played if both finalists have exactly one loss. | |||
| All times are in Central Daylight Time (CDT) | |||
| OPEN FIELD | WOMEN'S FIELD | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| PLACE | PRIZE | PLACE | PRIZE |
| 1 | $75,000 | 1 | $40,000 |
| 2 | $55,000 | 2 | $30,000 |
| 3 | $30,000 | 3 | $20,000 |
| 4 | $25,000 | 4 | $15,000 |
| 5-6 | $15,000 | 5-6 | $10,000 |
| 5-6 | $15,000 | 5-6 | $10,000 |
| 7-8 | $10,000 | 7-8 | $8,000 |
| 7-8 | $10,000 | 7-8 | $8,000 |
| Championship Bracket Bonus | $15,000 | Championship Bracket Bonus | $9,000 |
| Prize Fund | $250,000 | Prize Fund | $150,000 |
| PLACE | PRIZE |
|---|---|
| 1 | $6,000 |
| 2 | $4,500 |
| 3 | $3,500 |
| 4 | $2,800 |
| 5 | $1,800 |
| U2500 1 | $2,500 |
| U2500 2 | $1,200 |
| U2400 1 | $1,600 |
| U2400 2 | $1,100 |
| U2300 1 | $750 |
| U2300 2 | $250 |
| Female 1 | $2,000 |
| Female 2 | $1,000 |
| Top U18 1 | $750 |
| Top U18 2 | $250 |
| Prize Fund | $30,000 |
| TIME | EVENT |
|---|---|
| 12:00 PM | Players Meeting |
| 12:30 PM | Round 1 |
| 1:00 PM | Round 2 |
| 1:30 PM | Round 3 |
| 2:00 PM | Round 4 |
| 2:30 PM | Round 5 |
| 3:00 PM | Round 6 |
| 3:30 PM | Round 7 |
| 4:00 PM | Round 8 |
| 4:30 PM | Round 9 |
