BlitzChamps III: NFL Superstars Battle for Chess Supremacy

The BlitzChamps, the ultimate chess event in the NFL, is back with a bang for its third edition. This year, NFL superstars will battle it out on the chessboard to claim the title of football’s top chess player and a chance to win $100,000 for charity.

BlitzChamps III is set to kick off on May 22, and NFL Films will be documenting the tournament for their NFL Films Presents series, which will air on NFL Network and FS1. Greg Smith, NFL Films Senior Producer, expressed his excitement for the event, highlighting the stacked lineup of players and the innovative approach of Chess.com in making chess accessible to everyone.

The tournament will feature two Super Bowl champions, rising stars, and NFL legends, all vying for the coveted BlitzChamps title. Last year’s champion, Drue Tranquill, will be looking to defend his title against tough competition, including his teammate Justin Reid and NFL legend Larry Fitzgerald Jr.

Other notable participants include Chidobe Awuzie, Amari Cooper, Michael Vick, Kyler Murray, and Mack Hollins, among others. The tournament format will be best-of-two matches, with a double-elimination structure and tiebreaks in case of a draw.

Chess.com’s Chief Chess Officer IM Danny Rensch will provide commentary alongside former NFL player John Urschel and NFL Network’s Cynthia Frelund. Fans can catch all the action live on Chess.com/TV, Twitch, and YouTube channels.

With $100,000 at stake for charity and the title of BlitzChamp up for grabs, BlitzChamps III promises to be an exciting and intense event. Tune in on May 22 to witness the clash of football and chess titans in this thrilling competition.