Kasparov and Topalov to Compete in Chess960 Match in September

Garry Kasparov and Veselin Topalov are set to compete in a 12-game chess960 match at the Saint Louis Chess Club from September 11 to 13, 2026. The event, titled Clutch Chess: The Legends, will feature four games each day, comprising two rapid and two blitz games.

The chess960 format involves randomizing the back rank pieces before each match day, with a new starting position drawn daily. The official program includes an opening ceremony and drawing of lots on September 10, with matches commencing at noon local time on each competition day.

The Clutch Chess scoring system will be utilized, where points for victories increase over the match duration. The total prize fund is $144,000, with the winner receiving $70,000 and the runner-up $50,000. Kasparov and Topalov previously faced each other in chess960 during the 2018 Champions Showdown, where Topalov emerged victorious.