PogChamps 4: All The Information

PogChamps 4 presented by Coinbase is set to begin on August 29, 2021 and run until the finals on September 12.

Expected to be one of the most viewed chess tournaments in history, PogChamps 4 will have a $100,000 prize fund. 

The first three events PogChamps, PogChamps 2, and PogChamps 3 shattered viewership records achieving close to 500 million minutes watched. 

PogChamps 4 is poised to be the largest yet. Chess.com will also continue to emphasize supporting the chess community by matching up to $100,000 in community donations. 

Here's all the information you need to follow Chess.com PogChamps 4:

• Hosts And Commentators
• Broadcast And Streaming
• Format
• Prize Breakdown
• Community Outreach
• Players
• Groups And Seeding
• Match Schedule
• Results Website
• Brackets
• Coinbase Community Cup
• Bots

Hosts And Commentators

• WFM Alexandra Botez  
• Andrea Botez
• IM Danny Rensch
• IM Levy Rozman
• IM Anna Rudolf
• GM Aman Hambleton
• GM Robert Hess
• GM Daniel Naroditsky
• WGM Qiyu "Nemo" Zhou
• and more!

Broadcast and streaming

All Chess.com PogChamps matches will be broadcast live on Chess.com/TV with commentary led by chess celebrities. 

Players can stream on their own channels on a delay as well, but will not be allowed to use chat for outside assistance. Players who decide not to stream must join a Zoom call for the purposes of fair play and broadcasting.

Format

Group Stage

• The 16 players will be divided into four groups with four players in each, determined by the seeding below.
• In this group stage, players will play all three opponents in their group in a match.
• Each match will be two games at the 10+5 time control. The higher-seeded player will play white in the first game.
• If the score is tied after two games, the tiebreak phase begins after a five-minute break for players. The time control is 3+2, and is sudden death. Whoever is first to win a game wins the match. The player with the highest CAPS accuracy score from the first two games in the match will start with white.
• Players receive three points for each match won outright, two points winning a match via tiebreak, one point for losing a match via tiebreak, and zero points for losing a match without tiebreaks.
• At the end of group play, players will be ranked within their group by points accumulated.
• Each group's top two players make it to the Championship bracket, and the other two will play in the Consolation Bracket.

If two players in a group are tied on points, the first tiebreak is CAPS score averaged across all three matches they played in.

Championship and Consolation Brackets

• Both brackets will consist of eight players, with seeding predetermined to ensure competitive play.
• Both brackets will use a single-elimination format. The winner of each match proceeds to the next round.
• Matches will consist of two 10+5 games, and the higher seed plays White in the first game.
• If there is a tie after two games, the tiebreaker begins after a five-minute break. The time control is 3+2, and is sudden death. The first player to win a game wins the match. The player with the best CAPS accuracy score in the first two games of the match will start with white.
• If players shared seeding from group play, the player with the higher CAPS (accuracy) score from their previous round non-tiebreak game(s) will get the higher seed.

Prize Breakdown 

Total Prize Fund: $100,000

Winnings are determined by how far a player advances in the tournament.

Group Stage: 16 players, $8,000 prize pool.

• Every group stage winner (4 total) will receive a $2,000 prize

Championship Bracket: 8 players, $60,000 prize pool

• Tournament Champion: $20,000
• Runner-Up: $12,000
• Semifinalists (2): $6,000
• Quarterfinalists (4): $4,000

Consolation Bracket: 8 players, $32,000 prize pool 

• Consolation Champion: $7,000
• Runner-Up: $5,000
• Semifinalists (2): $4,000
• Quarterfinalists (4): $3,000

Community Outreach

During PogChamps 4, Chess.com will be matching donations from the community, up to $100,000 for a total of $200,000 to charity. We have partnered with Rise Above The Disorder, a 501(c)(3) dedicated to making mental health care more affordable and accessible.

Players 

As players are confirmed they will appear below. The current field:

• Ludwig

• MrBeast

• Rubius

• IamCristinini

• Sapnap

• NickEh30

• Tectone

• Fundy

• Harry Mack

• QTCinderella

• Boxbox

• JustaMinx

• Crokeyz

• 5uppp

• JakenbakeLIVE

Groups And Seeding

Groups are based on a variety of factors including (but not limited to) total games played, amount of chess streamed, and blitz, rapid, and tactics ratings. Players within the group are ordered by seed.

Group A: Ludwig, 5uppp, JakenbakeLIVE, MrBeast

Group B: Boxbox, Sapnap, JustaMinx, Harry Mack

Group C: Fundy, QTCinderella, NickEh30, Tectone

Group D: Crokeyz, Rubius, Punz, IamCristinini

Match Schedule

*Pacific Time. Schedule subject to change.

Results Website

Results will be posted at the site below once the event begins.