Get ready to climb the highest heights! The Chess.com King of the Hill Chess Championship is the next event of the Chess.com Community Championships. The event takes place from May 6 to May 8 and will feature a $2,500 prize fund—along with the boldest king walks you’ve ever seen!
King of the Hill is one of the oldest and most popular variants on Chess.com. The rules are the same as regular chess, with one difference: Players can also win the game by moving their king to the “top of the hill.” The hill’s summit, in this case, consists of the central squares d4, e4, d5, and e5.
The additional rule offers a promising but dangerous invitation. Players might go for a daring king run, which could either grant a swift win or a speedy loss.
The event starts with the qualifiers on May 6 and 7, with four different time slots available to play on each day. Each qualifier is a 75-minute arena with a 3+0 time control. Anyone can participate by checking the qualifier schedule and clicking the “Join” button.
During the qualifiers, we may request you to join a fair play call. Players who join the call must set up two cameras from different angles in the room. Players who refuse to comply will be removed from the event.
The winner of each qualifier then moves on to the Finals on May 8, an eight-player double-elimination knockout bracket. From there, only the bravest players can climb their way to the top and claim the title of King of the Hill champion.
Last year, GM Mitrabha Guha emerged as the champion after a dramatic match against FM Semyon Puzyrevsky. After a tense Grand Final tie, Mitrabha won the final game of the Grand Final Reset to secure the title and the $750 top prize.
Do you have what it takes to climb the hill and take home the crown? Then join the Chess.com King of the Hill Chess Championship qualifiers on May 6 and 7!