Viswanathan Anand vs Garry Kasparov: All you need to know about Clutch Chess Legends 2025
Former world champions Viswanathan Anand and Garry Kasparov will face off in the Clutch Chess: The Legends tournament from Wednesday.
The exhibition tournament will happen at the newly expanded Saint Louis Chess Club, Missouri from October 8 to 10.
Anand and Kasparov famously met in the 1995 World Chess Championship final at the World Trade Centre in New York, with the latter winning the clash 10.5-7.5.
Viswanathan Anand and Champion Garry Kasparov, contemplate during the fifth match of the Professional Chess Association (PCA) Championship, atop the World Trade Center in New York on September 18, 1995.
| Photo Credit:
AP/PTI
Viswanathan Anand and Champion Garry Kasparov, contemplate during the fifth match of the Professional Chess Association (PCA) Championship, atop the World Trade Center in New York on September 18, 1995.
| Photo Credit:
AP/PTI
What is the format of Clutch Chess Legends 2025?
At the Saint Louis Chess Club, Anand and Kasparov will clash over 12 Chess960 (Fischer Random) games, played at rapid and blitz time controls and with an innovative scoring system with the stakes going up each day
There will be four games every day in the three-day contest, with two rapid and blitz games each. While there will be four points at stake on the first day, on the second day, it will double as each win will be worth two points and on the third day, each game will fetch three points for a win.
Time controls
Rapid Games (1, 2, 5, 6, 9 and 10) will be twenty-five (25) minutes per game, with a ten (10)-second increment from move one (G/25;+10).
Blitz Games (3, 4, 7, 8, 11 and 12) will be five (5) minutes per game, with a three (3) second increment from move one (G/5;+3).
What is the prize money for Clutch Chess Legends 2025?
The winner will take home USD 70000 (approximately Rs 62 lakh) while USD 50000 (approximately Rs 44 lakh) is reserved for the one ending on the losing side of this match.
If the match is tied after 12 games, the prize will be split 50-50, where each player receives USD 60,000 (approximately Rs 53 lakh). There will be bonus money of USD 24,000 (approximately Rs 21 lakh) for 12 games.
When was the last time Anand and Kasparov played each other?
Anand and Kasparov last last took on each other at the 2021 Zagreb Grand Chess Tour Blitz, with the Indian GM winning both games.
Clutch Chess Legends 2025 Schedule
Oct 9, 2025 – Games 1-2 (Rapid) and 3-4 (Blitz) – 1:30 AM IST
Oct 9, 2025 – Games 5-6 (Rapid) and 7-8 (Blitz) – 10:30 PM IST
Oct 10, 2025 – Games 9-10 (Rapid) and 11-12 (Blitz) – 10:30 PM IST
Published on Oct 08, 2025