The introduction of new formats and competitions have made chess a lucrative earning option. According to Chess.com, 26 players earned in excess of $100,000 from prize money alone in 2025. The list includes India’s Arjun Erigaisi, R Praggnanandhaa, D Gukesh, Nihal Sarin and Koneru Humpy.
This has also resulted in congestion in the calendar. Tournaments take place one after another, often without much of a gap between two. Players who participate in these events to maintain rankings and fulfil other commitments, have no choice but to follow the order of the day.
RevSportz asked this to a few participants at Tata Steel Chess India, which got over in Kolkata on Sunday. All of them said the only solution is to be selective in choosing events. They have to miss some to stay in shape mentally and physically, even if it means losing out on money and points.
“It’s up to you, which one you want to play and which one you want to skip,” said Praggnanandhaa. One of the eight players to have qualified for Candidates 2026, he had a crazy 2025 and travelled incessantly to all corners of the world. “Lately, I haven’t played up to my best,” he said. It’s partially due to playing continuous tournaments.”
It’s not easy or risk-free to not play tournaments. Not just ranking points or prize money, certain players are committed to a minimum number of competitions every year due to contractual and commercial obligations. Even if the mind doesn’t want to, the body has to be dragged along.
Considering this, Wei Yi has made a decision. He will not play everything. “In rapid or blitz, it can be managed because there isn’t a lot to prepare,” said the Chinese, who has also made it to the Candidates. “In classical, that doesn’t work. One has to devote time and not play events if need be.” World No. 4 in rapid, he didn’t play the World Rapid and Blitz in Doha last month to avoid exhaustion.
There is no other way. The schedule is already crammed. In addition, freestyle chess has grappled its way in. Later this year, total chess will make its maiden appearance. All top players will be involved and naturally, the mental and physical load on them will increase. Polish player and 2021 World Cup winner Jan-Krzysztof Duda has already taken an indefinite hiatus from classical chess.
Praggnanandhaa has suggested that players start thinking of utilising game time as preparation time because the schedule allows little room for anything else after travelling and playing. Arjun Erigaisi sees sense in this. “Not just due to the busy calendar, playing is one of the best ways of training. You see so many lines, you are so intensely focused and analysing those games. I think you get to learn a lot from that.”
With Praggnanandhaa and Wei, Erigaisi will also be playing the year’s first super-strong classical event in Wijk Aan Zee in the Netherlands from January 17. They can think of a break only after that gets over on February 1. In a queer turn of events, it has become ‘make or break’ for elite chess players in an unusual way.
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