Chessable Master, first leg of the Champions Chess Tour 2024
The following players have already secured a place in Chessable Masters Division I based on their performances in last year’s CCT event, the AI Cup:
- GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (AI Cup Division I winner)
- GM Magnus Carlsen (AI Cup Division I finalist)
- GM Vladimir Fedoseev (AI Cup Division II winner)
Also depending on their results in the AI Cup 2023, the players below are exempt from the play-in, but will enter the fray on the second day already:
- GM Ian Nepomniachtchi (3rd in Division I)
- GM Anish Giri (4th in Division I)
- GM Vladislav Artemiev (2nd in Division II)
- GM Sam Sevian (1st in Division III)
Formats
Champions Chess Tour (CCT) 2024 format
The CCT comprises four online stages. The best players then meet in a live final to determine the Champions Chess Tour 2024 champion. The eight finalists qualify either by winning a stage or via the final overall ranking.
Chessable Masters format
Studying and practicing the Najdorf teaches several qualities essential to progressing in chess, including fighting for initiative, playing defense and playing on a color of squares. GM Yannick Pelletier explains these concepts methodically.
The Chessable Masters 2024 will take place in four phases:
- Open pre-qualifier open to all non-GMs (26.01.24)
- Play-In open to all GMs + players qualified via 1. (31.01.24).
- Placement in the various divisions (01.02.24).
- Final phase in the various divisions. in division (02-07.02.24).
Play-In Format (31.01.24)
This Open determines the level to which the top 69 finishers can aspire, and the conditions under which they can advance to a higher Division.
- 9 rounds in the Swiss system.
- Cadende: 10’+2”.
- The first 69 qualify for the Placement phase.
Placement phase format (01.02.24)
The 69 players who managed to qualify at the end of the play-in phase join the four pre-selected players – Nepo, Giri, Artemiev and Sevian. The players compete to reach the highest possible division:
- The Division Placement phase consists of two rounds:
- the first being a two-game match;
- the second a four-game match.
- Players who lose their match are demoted to a lower Division (players in Division Placement III are eliminated).
- Players who win all their Placement matches are qualified to stay in the same Division for the next finals phase.
- The cadence is 10’+2”.
- An Armageddon with time auction for Black determines the winner if the match is drawn.
Finals format (02-07.02.24)
Players compete for cash prizes, promotion to a higher division at the next CCT event and qualification for the CCT final.
- Double elimination tournament (consolation for the loser of a match):
- Division I: 8 players.
- Division II: 16 players.
- Division III: 32 players.
- Matches in the upper section are played in 2½ winning sets.
- The consolation matches in 1½ set win.
- In the event of a tie, an Armageddon takes place, with time auctioned to Black.
- If the winner of the consolation round wins the first part of the Grand Final, he must confirm his victory in a 1½ set match.
- Cadence: 10’+2”.
Prizes and points for the overall classification
Prizes for the best women
- 1st: $500
- 2e: $300
- 3e: $200
Other prizes
- Best veran: $500
- Most brilliant stroke: $500
- Most beautiful game: $500
- Players eliminated in the Division III Placement phase: $500
Automatic qualification
Players earn places at future CCT events based on their results:
- Division I
- The winner qualifies directly for the CCT 2024 live final.
- The winner and runner-up qualify directly for Division I of the next stage of the CCT.
- Division II
- The winner qualifies directly for Division I of the next stage of the CCT.
- Division III
- The winner qualifies directly for the Placement phase of the next CCT stage.
CCT 2024 program
Links
Tour 2023:
Tour 2022:
Tour 2021: