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Pogchamps: All The Information
Chess.com's inaugural PogChamps will bring Twitch's best streamers to the 64 squares.

Pogchamps: All The Information

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Chess.com is kicking off the summer with the inaugural 2020 Chess.com PogChamps, featuring top Twitch streamers. Based on the FIFA World Cup, the 16 invited players will compete for their share of a $50,000 prize fund through a group stage and championship playoff.

With group stage play set to begin on June 5, the PogChamps will feature two weeks of entertainment, concluding on June 19 with the championship final. Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura will be providing commentary throughout the PogChamps, in addition to providing lessons for each of the participants.

Here's all the information you need to follow the 2020 Chess.com PogChamps:


Broadcast and streaming:

All 2020 Chess.com PogChamps matches will be broadcast live with master commentary on Chess.com/TV. Players may choose to stream as well on their own channels on a delay and will not be permitted to use chat for outside assistance. Players who choose not to stream will be required to join a Zoom call for fair play and broadcast purposes.

Seeding and Groups:

  • Seeding 1-16 is ranked by a blend of Chess.com blitz and rapid ratings, as well as total games played
  • Group A: Voyboy, fuslie, erobb221, NateHill
  • Group B: hutch, yassuo, xQc, Cr1tikal
  • Group C: forsen, Sliker, NymN, xChocobars
  • Group D: boxbox, Swiftor, Papaplatte, Ludwig

2020 Chess.com PogChamps Match Schedule:

Official match times for each game will be posted prior to the subsequent round of play. The dates for each stage of the event are as follows:

  • Group Stage: June 5-14
  • Quarterfinals: June 15-17
  • Semifinals: June 18
  • Finals: June 19

Group Stage Schedule

Date Time (PT) Round Group White Black
June 5 2:00 PM Round 1 A fuslie erobb221
June 5 3:00 PM Round 1 A NateHill VoyBoy
June 5 4:00 PM Round 1 B moistCr1tikal hutch
June 6 12:00 PM Round 1 C ItsSliker NymN
June 6 2:00 PM Round 1 B yassuo xQcow
June 7 12:00 PM Round 1 D Swiftor Papaplatte
June 7 1:00 PM Round 1 C xChocobars forsen
June 7 2:00 PM Round 1 D Ludwig boxbox
June 8 1:00 PM Round 2 A erobb221 NateHill
June 8 2:00 PM Round 2 A VoyBoy fuslie
June 8 3:00 PM Round 2 B hutch yassuo
June 9 1:00 PM Round 2 D Papaplatte Ludwig
June 9 2:00 PM Round 2 B xQcow moistCr1tikal
June 10 12:00 PM Round 2 C NymN xChocobars
June 10 1:00 PM Round 2 C forsen ItsSliker
June 10 2:00 PM Round 2 D boxbox Swiftor
June 11 11:30 AM Round 3 A NateHill fuslie
June 11 1:00 PM Round 3 A erobb221 VoyBoy
June 12 1:00 PM Round 3 B moistCr1tikal yassuo
June 12 2:00 PM Round 3 B xQcow hutch
June 13 1:00 PM Round 3 C NymN forsen
June 13 2:00 PM Round 3 A erobb221 VoyBoy
June 13 2:30 PM Round 3 C xChocobars ItsSliker
June 14 1:00 PM Round 3 D Papaplatte boxbox
June 14 2:00 PM Round 3 D Ludwig Swiftor
June 14 3:00 PM Round 3 B xQcow hutch

Playoff Schedule

Date Time (PT) Round Group White Black
June 15 1:00 PM Quarterfinal Cons erobb221 moistCr1TiKaL
June 15 2:00 PM Quarterfinal Champ Hutch NateHill
June 15 3:00 PM Quarterfinal Champ Voyboy Yassuo
June 16 1:00 PM Quarterfinal Cons Itssliker Swiftor
June 16 2:00 PM Quarterfinal Champ Boxbox Forsen
June 16 3:00 PM Quarterfinal Cons Ludwig xChocobars
June 17 1:00 PM Quarterfinal Champ Papaplatte NymN
June 17 2:00 PM Quarterfinal Cons xQc Fuslie
June 18 12:00 PM Semifinal Champ Hutch Nymn
June 18 1:00 PM Semifinal Cons moistCriTiKaL Sliker
June 18 2:00 PM Semifinal Champ Voyboy Boxbox
June 19 12:00 PM Semifinal Cons xQc Ludwig
June 19 1:00 PM Final Champ TBD TBD
June 19 2:00 PM Final Cons TBD TBD

pogchamps consolation bracket
Chess.com PogChamps Consolation Bracket
pogchamps championship bracket
Chess.com PogChamps Championship Bracket
2020 Chess.com PogChamps Prize Fund 

Total Prize Fund: $50,000

Each player's winnings are determined by how far they advance into the Chess.com PogChamps.

Group Stage: 16 players, $4,000 prize pool.

  • Each group stage winner (4 total) wins a $1,000 prize

Championship Bracket: 8 players, $30,000 prize pool

  • Chess.com PogChamps Winner: $10,000
  • 2nd Place: $6,000
  • Semifinalist (2): $3,000
  • Quarterfinalist (4): $2,000

Consolation Bracket: 8 players, $16,000 prize pool 

  • 1st Place: $4,000
  • 2nd Place: $3,000
  • Semifinalist (2): $2,000
  • Quarterfinalist (4): $1,250

Format

Group Stage

  • The 16 players will be split into four groups of four players each, determined by the seeding above.
  • In this phase, players will face each of the three opponents in their group.
  • Each match will consist of a single 10+5 game.
  • Players will earn three points for a win, one point for a draw, and zero points for a loss.
  • At the end of group play, each group will be ranked by points accumulated.
  • The top two players advance to the Championship bracket, and the remaining two players advance to the Consolation Bracket.

In the case of a tie on points, the first tiebreak is average CAPS score across all three games.

Championship and Consolation Brackets

  • Each bracket will consist of eight players, with predetermined seeding (see bracket below) to ensure competitive equity.
  • Both brackets will follow a single-elimination format, with the winner of each match progressing to the next round.
  • The quarterfinals of the Championship bracket will consist of two 10+5 games, where the higher seed chooses which color to play first. The quarterfinals of the Consolation bracket will consist of a single 10+5 game unless both players in each pairing agree to play two games. If one game is played, white will be randomly chosen. In either bracket, in the case of a draw, a sudden death 3+0 game will be used to determine a winner, with the higher seed playing with the white pieces. In case of draw in the tiebreaks, the colors will alternate until there is a winner.
  • The semifinals and finals will both consist of two 10+5 games with alternating colors, with the higher seed from group play choosing which color to play first. In the case of a tie, a sudden death 3+0 game will be used to determine a winner, with the higher seed from group play playing with the white pieces. If players share identical seeds from group play, the player with the higher CAPS (accuracy) score from their previous round non-tiebreak game(s) will choose which color to play first in the 10+5 games, and will play white in the 3+0 tiebreak. In case of a draw in the first 3+0 tiebreak, the colors will alternate until there is a winner.

Players

The following chess players have confirmed their participation in the 2020 Chess.com PogChamps:

  • Cr1tikal

Cr1tikal Chess.com PogChamps

  • forsen

forsen Chess.com PogChamps

  • xQc

xQc Chess.com PogChamps

  • boxbox

boxbox Chess.com PogChamps

  • Voyboy

voyboy Chess.com PogChamps

  • yassuo

yassuo Chess.com PogChamps

  • Swiftor

Swiftor Chess.com PogChamps

  • NateHill

NateHill Chess.com PogChamps

    • Papaplatte

    Papaplatte Chess.com PogChamps

    • xChocobars

    xChocobars Chess.com PogChamps

    • Hutch

    Hutch Chess.com PogChamps

    • fuslie

    fuslie Chess.com PogChamps

    • Ludwig

    Ludwig PogChamps Chess.com

    • NymN

    NymN Chess.com PogChamps

    • erobb221

    erobb221 Chess.com PogChamps

    • SlikeR

    itsSliker Chess.com PogChamps

    Tune in this Friday on June 5 to catch the opening day of the 2020 Chess.com PogChamps. The event will be streamed live on Chess.com/tv.

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