2017 Champions Showdown

The sixth and final day of the Champions Showdown was a formality for the players, since Magnus Carlsen's crushing performance on days four and five already sealed the deal in his favor. Despite speculation that the World Champion would push hard for a 3000 blitz rating, arbiter Tony Rich informed us early on that none of day six's games count towards ratings.

With the other matches decided and finished, it was a two-man show at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis as Ding Liren and Magnus Carlsen entered their day three.

It was the final day for three of the matches, while Ding Liren and Magnus Carlsen battled it out in the g/20 day. Two of the finishing bouts went basically down to the wire, while Nakamura against Topalov was a very one-sided affair.

The third day of the Champions Showdown brought much more action to the fray. The three matches already in progress played eight games of g/10, an incredibly fast time control that saw both great brilliancies and fantastic blunders. On top of these already exciting matches, two more players joined the event: Magnus Carlsen faced off in his g/30 rounds against Ding Liren.

Day two of the Champions Showdown was as dramatic as the first! The players fought hard in the first day and it was impossible to claim that any of them were clearly overpowering their opponent. 

The Champions Showdown started today, November 9, 2017 at the Saint Louis Chess Club. An amazing four-match event was put together and the top players answered the call; they came ready to show their determination and grit to outplay their opponents.

ST. LOUIS, October 23, 2017 - The Saint Louis Chess Club will host a series of four matches, the Champions Showdown, November 9-14. In an exciting twist, the three top American players and current World Champion, Magnus Carlsen, will face their opponents in 10 games of rapid and 20 games of blitz. Tournament play will begin November 9 at 1 p.m., with World Champion Magnus Carlsen and No. 1 Chinese Grandmaster Ding Liren beginning November 11 at 1 p.m.