2024 Chess Prize Money Recap: Gukesh, Ding, and Ju Dominate the Year
In 2024, the world’s best chess players had another lucrative year, with two players winning over a million dollars in tournament winnings alone. The top earners were GMs Gukesh Dommaraju and Ding Liren, who both surpassed the million-dollar mark, with Gukesh taking the top spot with over $1.5 million in earnings. Notably, the first woman to ever reach $1,000,000 in lifetime tournament winnings was also crowned in 2024.
Other top earners in 2024 included GMs Alireza Firouzja, Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Hikaru Nakamura, and Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, among others. A total of 17 players earned at least six figures in tournament winnings throughout the year.
In terms of all-time earnings, new players joined the million-dollar club in 2024, including Gukesh, Firouzja, and the first woman, Ju Wenjun. Ding also cracked the top 10 all-time earners list. The top events of 2024 included the World Championship match, the Candidates Tournament, and the Champions Chess Tour Finals, with significant prize pools.
Looking ahead to 2025, with no FIDE World Championship scheduled, players will have other opportunities to win prizes in tournaments like the World Cup and Grand Swiss. The chess world eagerly anticipates how the top players will fare in the upcoming year. Which player’s earnings surprised you the most in 2024? Who do you think will be the top earner in 2025? Share your thoughts in the comments below!