Anand-Kasparov Rivalry Rekindles in St Louis; Gukesh to Face Carlsen in October Chess Showdowns

New Delhi, August 20, 2025: Chess fans are set for a historic autumn as legendary battles take center stage in St Louis, USA. Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand will renew his classic rivalry with Russian icon Garry Kasparov, while reigning world champion D Gukesh takes on Magnus Carlsen in a series of high-profile Clutch Chess exhibition matches this October.

Anand and Kasparov, who last met in 2021 at the Croatia Rapid and Blitz in Zagreb where the Indian emerged victorious, will square off again from October 7 to 11. The two giants have clashed 82 times in their storied careers, with Kasparov leading the overall record, while 30 games ended in draws.

The St Louis Chess Club announced that the clash will open its newly enhanced facility, calling it a celebration of chess heritage. The match, titled Clutch Chess: Legends, carries a prize pool of USD 144,000 and will unfold over 12 games of Chess960 (Fischer Random) at rapid and blitz time controls. The organizers promised an “innovative scoring system” aimed at keeping both players and fans on edge.

Following this, attention will shift to Clutch Chess: Champions Showdown from October 27 to 29, featuring the world’s top players. World No.1 Magnus Carlsen, World No.2 Hikaru Nakamura, World No.3 Fabiano Caruana, and World Champion D Gukesh will battle in what is billed as the highest-rated tournament of the year.

With a prize purse of USD 412,000, the Champions Showdown introduces a unique points structure: wins will be worth one point on Day 1, two on Day 2, and three on Day 3. The rapid double round-robin format will feature 18 games played at 10 minutes plus a five-second increment.

Carlsen, who has a commanding head-to-head record against Gukesh with 31 wins to 12 losses and six draws, will look to reaffirm his dominance. However, the Indian prodigy has grown into one of his fiercest challengers, making their duel a headline attraction.

October in St Louis promises to be a month where chess history and the future collide on the board.