The world will crown a new world champion after 10 years.
We are now counting days to the biggest classical chess event of the year, the World Chess Championship, which pits world #2 Ian Nepomniachtchi and #3 Ding Liren. This year, in particular, is very special as Magnus Carlsen had shockingly steppped down after a decade on the throne. This makes the 2023 World Chess Championship even more intriguing as the world now anticipates a new face as the world champion.
Find out everything about this grand event here including a tournament schedule, format, and where you can watch it live!
2023 World Chess Championship schedule and more details
The 2023 WCC, which takes place in Astana, Kazakhstan, starts on Friday, April 7, 2023 (opening ceremony). The first match will begin on April 9, 2023. The length of the tournament depends on whether or not there would be tiebreakers. The event is scheduled to end on Sunday, April 30, 2023.
This year's WCC also hosts a $2.1 million USD prize money and the winner takes 60% from the pool. If the WCC drags to tiebreakers, the winner takes 55%.
Here is the 2023 World Chess Championship format according to Chess.com:
- The match consists of up to 14 classical games.
- The player who scores at least 7.5 points wins the match and becomes the next World Champion.
- The time control is 120 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 60 minutes for the next move, and then 15 more minutes for the rest of the game. Starting on move 61, there is a 30-second increment per move.
- Players can't draw by agreement before Black's 40th move.
If the 14 classical games end in a draw, the following rules will apply for tiebreakers:
- A four-game rapid playoff with a 25+10 time control. A drawing of lots decides which player starts with White.
- If the tie persists, the players contest a two-game playoff with a 5+3 time control. A drawing of lots decides which player starts with White.
- If the tie persists, players contest another two-game playoff with a 5+3 time control. A drawing of lots once more decides which player starts with White.
- If still tied, players play 3+2 games until there is a winner. A drawing of lots once more decides who starts with White, with colors alternating after each game.
Where to watch the 2023 World Chess Championship live
The most popular chess channels will broadcast the World Chess Championship, namely Chess24 and Chess.com. The Chess.com team will field notable names on broadcast - GMs Daniel Naroditsky, Robert Hess, David Howell, Anish Giri, Fabiano Caruana, and IM Tania Sachdev. Popular chess streamers or casters like Hikaru Nakamura and Anna Cramling will also likely stream the WCC games.
Here are links to the top chess channels:
Why did Magnus Carlsen step down?
Some people might not know that Magnus Carlsen had decided to not defend his title this year. Despite still actively competing in chess, and performing incredibly well on top of that, he refuses to participate in the World Chess Championship unless there is a change of format. The 5-time world champion also said that he would consider defending his title if 19-year-old prodigy, Alireza Firouzja, is the challenger.
But that is not the case as Ian Nepomniachtchi once again won the Candidates Tour - which was the same case as 2022 WCC. Ding Liren, who was the runner-up at the Candidates Tour this year, fills in the vacant spot at the WCC. This grand over-the-board event will see the world's second and third compete for the coveted champion title. And for the first time since 2013, the world will embrace a new world champion.