PRO Chess League Arena Royale: All The Information

Pro Chess League: Arena Royale is a tournament featuring teams from the PRO Chess League competing for a $100,000 prize fund. The Arena Royale will run from September 16 through September 24 as a prelude to the return of the PRO Chess League in 2022.

• Broadcast
• Schedule
• Format
• Prizes
• Teams & Players
• Community Contest
• Free Agent Sign Up Form

Broadcast

You can watch the event with live expert commentary on Chess.com/TV or on our Twitch and YouTube channels.

Schedule

Format

Group Stage

• Each PCL team chooses nine players and is assigned to a group that is comprised of four total teams;
• That group competes in an arena with a 3+0 time control that lasts for two hours. The top six scores from each team count towards the team point total.
• The highest-scoring team advances directly to the quarterfinals while the lowest-scoring team is eliminated from the event;
  • If there is a tie after the arena stage, each team's seventh scoring player is taken into account, and whoever's team score is higher advances. 
• The 2nd and 3rd place teams advance to a knockout ladder match, which will be four-on-four at a 3+2 time control, contested by four players of each team's choice;
  • The first team to eliminate the other team's four players, by beating them or drawing them, wins and advances to the quarterfinals;
  • In the event of a drawn game, both players from both teams are eliminated. The only exception is when both teams have one player remaining.
  • If there is just one player remaining from each team, they continue playing until someone wins. After two drawn games, the time control is reduced to 1+1.

Knockout Stage

Quarterfinals

• Each team chooses six players to compete in this stage. Five of them must have played in the Group Stage, however one player can be new to the competition. 
• The round begins with one 2-hour arena;
  • The three highest-scoring teams qualify for the semifinals;
  • The three lowest-scoring teams are eliminated from the tournament;
  • Any ties are broken in favor of the team that has the highest-scoring individual player.
• At the end of the arena, the two remaining teams will compete in a knockout ladder match for the final Semifinal spot.
  • The format for the knockout ladder match is the same as the group stage.
  • The first team to eliminate the other team’s four players wins and advances to the semifinals;

Semifinals & Finals

• Each team chooses four players and each player plays each member of the other team once;
• The semifinals and finals are played in a Scheveningen format with a 10+2 time control.
• The team with the most points wins the match;
• A third place (consolation) match between the semifinals losers will define the third-place winner;
• Standard scoring for the match is:
  • 1 point for a win;
  • 0.5 points for a draw;
  • 0 points for a loss;
• Ties will be broken by a knockout ladder under the same rules as from the group stage.

Prizes

The prize fund is over $100,000, as described below:

Team Prizes (Playoffs)

• 1st: $20,000
• 2nd: $15,000
• 3rd: $10,000
• 4th: $5,000
• 5th: $3,000
• 6th: $2,000
• 7th: $1,500
• 8th: $1,000

Group Stage Team Prize (Per Round)

• 1st: $2,000
• 2nd: $1,500
• 3rd: $1,250
• 4th: $1,000

Most Points By Single Player (in First Round Arena)

• 1st: $1,000
• 2nd: $750
• 3rd: $500
• 4th: $400
• 5th: $300
• 6th: $200
• 7th:  $150
• 8th: $125
• 9th-10th: $100

Most Points By Single Player in Quarterfinal Arena: 

• 1st: $1000
• 2nd: $700
• 3rd: $500
• 4th: $350
• 5th: $200
• 6th: $150
• 7th: $100

Additional Prizes

• Best team stream: $1,000
• Best player stream: $1,000

Teams & Players

Below you can see a list of all the players who signed up to play in the event as of September 15. Rosters are subject to change.

Free Agent Sign Up Form

If you are a professional looking to be hired as a free agent you can apply by filling out the form below: