About the 2026 Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz
Launching the Grand Chess Tour's final stretch in the Chess Capital of America, the 2026 Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz brings ten elite grandmasters to the Saint Louis Chess Club from July 31–August 7. Across five days of play, the field will contest nine rapid rounds and eighteen blitz rounds—135 games in all—with critical Tour Points on the line before the Sinquefield Cup and GCT Grand Finals.
The Field
The 10-player lineup consists of seven full-tour competitors and three wildcards. Full-tour players Fabiano Caruana, Javokhir Sindarov, Vincent Keymer, Wesley So, Anish Giri, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, and Jorden van Foreest are joined by wildcards Leinier Dominguez, Levon Aronian, and Awonder Liang.
Prize Fund
The total prize fund for the event is $200,000, with $50,000 awarded to first place. Full-tour players also compete for Tour Points that help determine qualification for the 2026 GCT Grand Finals.
How to Watch
Follow every round with professional commentary led by Grandmaster Yasser Seirawan on the Saint Louis Chess Club's YouTube channel and on Twitch. For spectators in Saint Louis, day passes include standing-room tournament hall access, live Grandmaster commentary, and complimentary food, snacks, and beverages.
Format
The tournament combines two fast-paced disciplines: a 9-round single round-robin Rapid tournament (played at a time control of 25 minutes plus a 10-second increment from move one) and an 18-round double round-robin Blitz tournament (played at 5 minutes plus a 2-second increment from move one). Rapid wins count for 2 points and draws for 1 point, while Blitz wins count for 1 point and draws for ½ point.
Event Schedule
The Players
Tournament Prize Fund
$200,000Tournament Sponsors
