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Clutch Chess

Clutch Chess is a Chess offline circuit run by St. Louis Chess Club. We track 1 of its events from 2026, and Clutch Chess Champions Showdown 2026 is next, starting Oct 27.

Next matches

No Clutch Chess matches are scheduled right now.

Events

EventDatesLocationPrizeWinner
Clutch Chess Champions Showdown 2026Oct 27 to Oct 29, 2026St. Louis$425,000 USD

Format and rules

Organizer
St. Louis Chess Club
Type
Offline
Location
St. Louis
Format
Triple Double Round Robin
Players
4
Prize pool
$425,000 USD

How Clutch Chess Champions Showdown 2026 is played:

  • 9-round, 18-game tournament consisting of three double round-robins (2 rapid games per round)
  • Time control: 10 minutes per game, with a 5-second increment from move 1
  • Draw offers are not permitted before the completion of Black's 60th move.
  • Day 1 – October 27, 2026
  • Games 1-6 (Double round-robin 1)
  • Players earn 1 point for a win, 0.5 points for a draw, and 0 points for a loss.
  • Each win is worth $1,000 USD.
  • Day 2 – October 28, 2026
  • Games 7-12 (Double round-robin 2)
  • Players earn 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss.
  • Each win is worth $2,000 USD.
  • Day 3 – October 29, 2026
  • Games 13-18 (Double round-robin 3)
  • Players earn 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss.
  • Each win is worth $3,000 USD.
  • The bonus money from all drawn games (out of $72,000 USD in total possible bonus earnings) accumulates each day into the Champion's Jackpot, which is added to the overall winner's prize.
  • Playoffs
  • If there is a tie for first place after 18 games, a playoff determines the winner only. Places second through fourth are determined by the players' final scores in the initial 18 games.
  • Two-player tie: A single Armageddon game is played, where Black has draw odds. Players secretly bid the time they wish to have with the Black pieces (up to a maximum of 10 minutes). The player bidding the lowest time plays Black with their bid time, while the other player plays White with 10 minutes. Both players receive a 2-second increment per move starting after move 60.
  • Three- or four-way tie: A round-robin Armageddon tournament is held between all tied players using the same bidding procedure.

From the event page on Liquipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Know when your Chess team plays

Pick your teams and we send one short email a week ahead and the day before they play. At most one email a day, and you can pause or stop anytime.

Alert me when my team plays

Common questions about Clutch Chess

When is the next Clutch Chess event?

Clutch Chess Champions Showdown 2026 runs Oct 27 to Oct 29, 2026.

Where is Clutch Chess Champions Showdown 2026 played?

St. Louis, at Saint Louis Chess Club.

How much prize money is in Clutch Chess Champions Showdown 2026?

$425,000 USD.

What is the Clutch Chess format?

9-round, 18-game tournament consisting of three double round-robins (2 rapid games per round). Time control: 10 minutes per game, with a 5-second increment from move 1. Draw offers are not permitted before the completion of Black's 60th move. Day 1 – October 27, 2026.

Source Liquipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0. Last updated .

Know when your team plays

Pick your teams and we send one short email a week ahead and the day before they play. At most one email a day, and you can pause or stop anytime.

Alert me when my team plays