About the 2026 GCT Finals
The 2026 Grand Chess Tour season culminates at the Saint Louis Chess Club from August 21–28. Competition runs August 22–27, when the four highest-ranked full-tour players after the regular season contest a knockout tournament for the GCT title. If fourth place in the Tour standings is tied, the qualifying playoff will be held August 20.
The Field
The four qualifiers will be determined by the final 2026 Tour standings after the Sinquefield Cup and any required GCT standings playoff. Players will be seeded one through four; the semifinals pair Seed No. 1 against Seed No. 4 and Seed No. 2 against Seed No. 3. Qualifier names will be posted once the field is official, and the top three finishers will receive invitations to the 2027 Grand Chess Tour.
Prize Fund
The total prize fund is $450,000, distributed as follows: $200,000 for first place, $125,000 for second, $75,000 for third, and $50,000 for fourth.
How to Watch
Follow every game 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, a limited daily pass is required and includes standing-room tournament-hall access, live Grandmaster commentary, and complimentary food, snacks, and beverages in the spectator area.
Format
The GCT Finals is a four-player knockout consisting of two semifinals, a championship match, and a third-place match. Each match includes two Classical games, two Rapid games, and four Blitz games, and every scheduled game is played even if the match result has already been decided.
Classical games use 90 minutes for the first 40 moves followed by 30 minutes for the remainder, with a 30-second increment from move one. Rapid games use 25 minutes plus a 10-second increment, and Blitz games use 5 minutes plus a 2-second increment. Match scoring awards 6/3/0 points for a Classical win/draw/loss, 4/2/0 for Rapid, and 2/1/0 for Blitz. If both Classical games in a match are drawn, a Blitz Bonus Match is played; any match still tied after the scheduled games proceeds to the official playoff procedure.
Event Schedule
Game times are listed in local Saint Louis time (CDT). Times for private events are not published.
Tournament Prize Fund
$450,000
