Chess.com Puzzles Championship: GMs and IMs Qualify for Knockout

The Chess.com Puzzles Championship is heating up as GMs Ray Robson, Andy Woodward, Daniel Naroditsky, Pranav Venkatesh, and Raunak Sadhwani, along with IMs Liam Putnam, Yoseph Theolifus Taher, and Anthony Atasanov, have all qualified for the eight-player Knockout. While Robson is a favorite, Woodward, Raunak, and Atasanov all reached the highest score of 60 in the qualifying rounds, with Naroditsky securing his spot with a buzzer-beater score of 58.

The Knockout is set to take place on Friday, January 17, with the top players battling it out in Puzzle Battle matches. This year’s event marks the beginning of the Chess.com Community Championships, with monthly tournaments featuring different variants.

The competition has been fierce, with players showcasing their puzzle-solving skills in the Puzzle Rush Royale rounds. Robson, despite not qualifying until round three, has been a dominant force in previous years. However, newcomers like Woodward and Naroditsky have shown they have what it takes to challenge the reigning champion.

As the excitement builds for the Knockout, fans can expect intense matches and high-stakes puzzle battles. With a $5,000 prize fund on the line, the competition is sure to be intense. Stay tuned to see who will come out on top in the Chess.com Puzzles Championship.