“Get Ready for the Chess.com Fog of War Chess Championship!”

The Chess.com Community Championships are about to get a whole lot spookier with the upcoming Fog of War Chess Championship! This unique event, happening on October 17 and 18, will challenge players to navigate a chessboard shrouded in mystery, with a $2,000 prize fund up for grabs for the finalists.

Fog of War is a chess variant that gained popularity in 2020, where players can only see the squares to which their pieces can move, adding an extra layer of strategy and suspense to the game. Creators like GM Hikaru Nakamura and IM Levy Rozman have already delved into this mysterious variant, making it a fan favorite among chess enthusiasts.

Players looking to test their skills in the dark can join any of the eight arena qualifiers on October 17, with each qualifier lasting 75 minutes in a blitz time control format. The winners of each qualifier will advance to the final, a double-elimination knockout bracket where they will compete for the championship title.

But beware, as organizers will be keeping a close eye on players to ensure fair play. Participants may be required to join a video call with multiple cameras set up in the room to prevent any foul play.

Even if you don’t make it to the final, you can still tune in to the live broadcast on Chess.com’s Community Twitch channel, with commentary by AnittaDrink. Last month’s champion, IM Nhat Minh To, will be looking to defend his title against tough competition from players like GMs Andrew Tang, Vladimir Fedoseev, Luca Moroni Jr, Awonder Liang, and Jeffery Xiong.

Are you ready to embrace the unknown and prove your skills in the Chess.com Fog of War Chess Championship? Let us know in the comments what other variants you’d like to see in future championship series!