FIDE Grand Swiss and WGS offer record prize funds

Photo: Mark Livshitz  

The International Chess Federation introduced updated regulations for Grand Swiss 2023 and Women’s Grand Swiss 2023 (WGS), the events to be held in Douglas, Isle of Man, from October 23 to November 6. Compared to the previous editions, the main changes involve the qualification system, increased prize money and prize fund distribution as well as travel and accommodation conditions. 

Qualification for Grand Swiss

Invitations for Grand Swiss shall be determined according to the following criteria: 

A. One hundred players qualify by FIDE rating 

One hundred players shall qualify by their rating. For this purpose, the FIDE rating in June FIDE Standard Rating List shall be used. In case of equality, the total number of rated games in 12 standard rating periods from July 2022 to June 2023 shall be decisive: the player with the most number of games shall qualify. If these numbers are equal, the drawing of lots shall decide. 

Only players who played at least 10 rated games counted in any of the 12 standard rating periods from July 2022 to June 2023 are eligible. 

B. Women’s World Champion GM Ju Wenjun (as at 31 December 2022). 

C. Four Continent spots. Each spot shall be decided by the respective Continental President by July 31, 2023. 

D. Four players nominated by the FIDE President. 

Qualification for Women’s Grand Swiss

Invitations for WGS shall be determined according to the following criteria:

A. Forty players qualify by FIDE rating

Forty players shall qualify by their rating. For this purpose, the FIDE rating in June FIDE Standard Rating List shall be used. In case of equality, the total number of rated games in 12 standard rating periods from July 2022 to June 2023 shall be decisive: the player with the most number of games shall qualify.  If these numbers are equal, the drawing of lots shall decide.

Only players who played at least 10 rated games counted in any of the 12 standard rating periods from July 2022 to June 2023 are eligible.

B. Four Continent spots. Each spot shall be decided by the respective Continental President by 31 July 2023.

C. Four players nominated by the FIDE President.

PRIZES 

The total prize fund for Grand Swiss 2023 is USD 460,000 (compared to 425,000 in the previous edition) and the number of prizes has increased from 40 to 46. The amount is net and cleared of any local taxes. The money prizes shall be allocated as follows: 

PLACE

PRIZE, USD

PRIZE TOTAL, USD

1st

80,000

80,000

2nd

60,000

60,000

3rd

40,000

40,000

4th

35,000

35,000

5th

30,000

30,000

6th

25,000

25,000

7th

20,000

20,000

8th

18,000

18,000

9th

15,000

15,000

10th

12,500

12,500

11th – 15th

8,000

40,000

16th – 20th

5,000

25,000

21st – 25th

3,000

15,000

26th – 30th

2,500

12,500

31st – 46th

2,000

32,000

TOTAL

 

460,000

The total prize fund for Women’s Grand Swiss is USD 140,000 (compared to 125,000 in 2021) and the number of prizes has increased from 20 to 23. The amount shall be net and cleared of any local taxes. The money prizes shall be allocated as follows:  

PLACE

PRIZE, USD

PRIZE TOTAL, USD

1st

25,000

25,000

2nd

17,500

17,500

3rd

15,000

15,000

4th

13,000

13,000

5th

11,000

11,000

6th

8,000

8,000

7th

7,000

7,000

8th

6,000

6,000

9th

5,000

5,000

10th

4,000

4,000

11th – 15th

2,500

12,500

16th – 23rd

2,000

16,000

 

TOTAL

140,000

Daily and travel allowances also have grown significantly. 

Each registered player receives: 

  • An Accommodation & Meals Daily Allowance of USD 150 for each night spent on IOM, up to a maximum of fourteen nights (i.e. up to a maximum allowance of USD 2,100 per player). 
  • A Travel Allowance. The chess federation to which the player belongs shall determine the amount*: 
  • USD 950 for all players belonging to a chess federation in Europe. 
  • USD 1,600 for players belonging to a chess federation from the rest of the world. 

*The Organiser retains the right to compensate the travel fee according to the actual residence of the player.

Grand Swiss 2023 and Women’s Grand Swiss schedule:

DAY

DATE

START TIME

EVENT

1

23 October

n/a

Arrivals*

2

24 October

To be advised

Opening Ceremony & Technical Meeting

3

25 October

14:30

Round 1

4

26 October

14:30

Round 2

5

27 October

14:30

Round 3

6

28 October

14:30

Round 4

7

29 October

14:30

Round 5

8

30 October

14:30

Round 6

9

31 October

n/a

Free day

10

1 November

14:30

Round 7

11

2 November

14:30

Round 8

12

3 November

14:30

Round 9

13

4 November

14:30

Round 10

14

5 November

14:00

Round 11 & Closing Ceremony

15

6 November

n/a

Departures

Regulations for FIDE Grand Swiss 2023 (PDF)

Regulations for FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss (PDF)