Chess – particularly online chess – was already experiencing one of its best years in decades in 2020 as the game thrived while people spent more time at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Then, Netflix released “The Queen’s Gambit” on Oct. 23, and the brilliant series did more than take […]
Tag: chess
Speed Chess Championship Odds: Aronian, Caruana, Giri First-Round Underdogs
Many of the world’s top chess players are competing in the 2020 Speed Chess Championship on Chess.com, a $100,000 online knockout competition that pits grandmasters against each other in a series of blitz and bullet games. While Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura are heavy favorites to get through the early […]
Play Magnus Group Launches 10-Event, $1.5 Million Champions Chess Tour
The Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour burst on the scene earlier this year to provide world-class chess players with big money online tournaments throughout the spring and summer. Now, the Play Magnus Group is expanding on that idea with the Champions Chess Tour, a 10-event series beginning later this month. The […]
Chess Betting Flourishes Alongside Online Events During COVID-19 Pandemic
When Jan-Krzysztof Duda defeated World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen in the fifth round of the Altibox Norway Chess tournament on Oct. 10, it caused a sensation in the chess world. The victory ended Carlsen’s 125-game unbeaten run in classical play, the longest known streak in chess history. The result also […]
Chess Bets: Carlsen Wins Norway Chess, Firouzja Takes Second
Magnus Carlsen tricked Alireza Firouzja in a theoretically drawn endgame to win their Round 9 encounter and clinch first place at Norway Chess with a round to spare. Carlsen would go on to lose his final game to Levon Aronian – his second classical loss of the tournament, after his […]
Chess Bets: Carlsen, Firouzja Face Off in Round 9 Clash of Norway Chess Leaders
Magnus Carlsen did what he needed to do in Round 8, beating Aryan Tari to take the lead at Norway Chess. Now, the world champion faces off with the hottest young talent in chess, Alireza Firouzja, who holds second place behind Carlsen heading into Round 9. Carlsen holds the Norway […]
Chess Bets: Magnus Carlsen’s 125-Game Undefeated Streak Broken in Norway Chess Shocker
The longest confirmed undefeated streak in the history of elite chess came to an end when Magnus Carlsen lost a classical game at Norway Chess on Saturday. It was Jan-Krzysztof Duda who did the deed, beating Carlsen with White in the fifth round of the Altibox Norway Chess event. Duda […]
Chess Bets: Norway Chess Round 5 Odds and Picks
Magnus Carlsen is asserting himself at Norway Chess, taking the tournament lead after defeating his closest rival, Fabiano Caruana, in the fourth round of the super tournament. Carlsen now leads Norway Chess on nine points, with Levon Aronian just one point back, while Caruana and Alireza Firouzja sit just two […]
Chess Bets: Who to Back in the Carlsen vs. Caruana Showdown at Norway Chess
After just three rounds of play, Norway Chess has already turned into a four-horse race. Both Jan-Krzysztof Duda and Aryan Tari have yet to score, while the rest of the field is separated by just 1.5 points. Fabiano Caruana still holds a share of the lead, which makes me feel […]
Chess Bets: Caruana, Firouzja Strike First at Norway Chess
Fabiano Caruana and Alireza Firouzja both won classical games with Black in the first round to take the early lead in the Altibox Norway Chess tournament on Monday. World Champion Magnus Carlsen also picked up a victory with Black, but needed an Armageddon game to get past Levon Aronian after […]
Chess Bets: Fading Magnus Carlsen in Norway Chess
Live chess is back! Norway Chess begins on Monday, and the return to over-the-board action means no more disconnects, no more mouse slips, and maybe fewer disqualifications due to computer cheating. Most importantly, it means more chances for us to bet on chess. And after going with the chalk last […]
Chess Bets: Magnus Carlsen Heavily Favored Over Wesley So in Banter Series Final
World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen comes into the Banter Series final as a significant favorite over Wesley So, but the Norwegian still offers value for bettors if the price is right. The grandmasters will meet in the final on Tuesday, with the winner taking home a $12,000 top prize. Carlsen […]
Chess: Carlsen, So Dueling for Title on Final Day of Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz
Magnus Carlsen and Wesley So separated themselves from the field on Friday, setting up a two-man race for the title on the final day of the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz online chess tournament. Carlsen leads the way with 18.5 points following a blistering 6.5/9 performance in Friday’s blitz round-robin, […]
Chess: World Champion Magnus Carlsen Leads Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz After Second Day
Magnus Carlsen won all three of his games on Wednesday to grab an early lead in the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz chess tournament. Carlsen scored nine of a possible 12 points after two days of play in the tournament, which organizers moved online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Carlsen […]
Pogchamps 2: ItsHafu Defeats Gripex to Win Twitch Streamer Chess Tournament
It’s not clear if ItsHafu came into Pogchamps 2 as the strongest player in the field on Day 1, but she finished the online chess tournament as a dominant champion after defeating Gripex in a final match that showed just how far ahead of the pack she stands. Hafu beat […]
Pogchamps 2: Gripex, Hafu Turn Back Challengers to Reach Championship Final
Gripex survived a blitz tiebreaker and Hafu overcame her most difficult challenge of the tournament yet to set up a highly anticipated Pogchamps 2 final on Sunday. The two finalists won their spots on an action-packed Saturday that featured four matches, including both the championship and consolation semifinals. Gripex Overcomes […]
ItsHafu, Zexrow Claim Pogchamps 2 Semifinals Berths With 2-0 Wins
ItsHafu confirmed her standing as the player to beat in Pogchamps 2 after reaching the championship bracket semifinals with a dominant victory over Forsen on Friday. Hafu defeated Forsen 2-0 in impressive fashion, calculating well and remaining calm under pressure in both games against one of her most dangerous opponents […]
Pogchamps 2 Quarterfinals: TFBlade, QTCinderella Win Tiebreakers, Easywithaces Sweeps Carson
Pogchamps 2 action continued on Thursday with three more quarterfinal matchups, including two that came down to blitz tiebreakers to determine a winner. The day began with a clash between Group C winner TFBlade and Group D runner-up Hafthor “Hafthorjulius†Bjornsson in what many expected to be one of the […]
Pogchamps 2 Quarterfinals: Dogdog Upsets Wagamama; Gripex, Cizzorz Post Wins
Dogdog came from behind to beat Wagamama 2-1 after a blitz tiebreaker to take the first quarterfinal in the Pogchamps 2 championship bracket on Wednesday. Wagamama came into the match as one of the highest-rated players in the field, but found himself in trouble early in the first game. Time […]
Pogchamps 2 Bracket: Wild Group C Games End Group Stage in Online Chess Tournament
Two competitive matchups in Group C finished up the group stage and finalized the Pogchamps bracket on Monday, as TFBlade and Dogdog managed to qualify for the championship stage of the tournament. Coming into Monday’s action, three players still had chances of qualifying for the championship bracket out of Group […]