2025 Grand Chess Tour Lineup Announced: Gukesh Dommaraju, Alireza Firouzja, and Fabiano Caruana Lead the Field

World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju, Defending Champion GM Alireza Firouzja, and 2023 Champion GM Fabiano Caruana are set to lead the nine-player lineup for the highly anticipated $1.6 million 2025 Grand Chess Tour. The star-studded field also includes top players such as Levon Aronian and Jan-Krzysztof Duda, who are replacing Ian Nepomniachtchi and Anish Giri from the previous year.

At just 17 years old, Gukesh Dommaraju has risen to the top of the field, now ranked as the world number-three and reigning world champion. His remarkable journey from being the lowest rated player in the 2024 Tour to now leading the pack is a testament to his exceptional talent and dedication to the game.

The lineup for the 2025 Grand Chess Tour features a mix of seasoned veterans and rising stars, with players like Wesley So, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, and Nodirbek Abdusattorov also making a return. Notable absentees include Arjun Erigaisi, while fan favorites Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura are expected to feature as wild cards in individual events.

The Tour will kick off in Warsaw, where local hero Jan-Krzysztof Duda has had previous success, setting the stage for an exciting series of events across different locations. The highlight of the Tour will be the four-player Finals in Sao Paulo, Brazil, marking the first time since 2019 that such a format will be used to determine the champion.

With a packed schedule that includes prestigious events like the FIDE Grand Swiss and FIDE World Cup, the top players are in for a challenging yet thrilling year ahead. For chess fans, it promises to be an exciting time as they witness some of the best players in the world battle it out on the board.