8/15/2025 – The fourth event of the 2025 Grand Chess Tour is the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz tournament. Taking place on 11-15 August, the event starts with 9 rounds of rapid action, followed by 18 rounds of blitz. Included in the field are the three frontrunners in the race to win the Grand Chess Tour: Alireza Firouzja, R Praggnanandhaa and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. | Follow the games live with expert commentary starting at 19.00 CEST (13.00 ET, 22.30 IST)
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Day 5 - Blitz
The Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz tournament is the fourth stage of the 2025 Grand Chess Tour. The tournament features rapid and blitz chess.
The tournament runs on 11-15 August with the well-known tour format of rapid and blitz chess: 9 rounds of rapid played on the first three days of action, followed by 18 rounds of blitz played on the final two days.
The time control in the rapid section is 25 minutes for the game plus 10-second increments per move. In the blitz section, it is 5 minutes for the game plus 2-second increments per move.
The event features a prize fund that amounts to $175,000, with $40,000 reserved for the winner. Grand Chess Tour points will also be awarded.
The course is designed to provide a deep yet practical repertoire for Black, balancing solid foundations with aggressive counterplay. The Classical Sicilian has stood the test of time as one of the most principled and fighting defences against 1.e4. With its rich history spanning world championship matches and modern elite tournaments, this opening remains a favourite among players who seek a dynamic, counterattacking approach without venturing into extreme theoretical battles like the Najdorf or Sveshnikov.
Free video sample: Introduction
Free video sample: 6.h3
Commentary by Yasser Seirawan, Peter Svidler and Nazi Paikidze
In this video course, experts including Dorian Rogozenco, Mihail Marin, Karsten Müller and Oliver Reeh, examine the games of Boris Spassky. Let them show you which openings Spassky chose to play, where his strength in middlegames were and much more.
YOUR PERSONAL CHESS COACH - Whether you’re taking your first steps into the world of club chess, or already playing at a tournament level: with FRITZ, you can train more efficiently, intelligently and with a more personalised approach than ever before.
In this volume, we dive into core aspects of chess technique. Smyslov taught the principle of tactical hierarchy, “checks, double attacks, and unprotected pieces”, and Mikhalchishin demonstrates how this method of calculation is vital.
Videos: Nico Zwirs examines two Petroffs from the 2026 Candidates. Robert Ris has a tip against the Caro-Kann Advance Variation with 3…c5. Fiona Sieber reveals a surprise weapon against the Najdorf. ‘Lucky Bag’ with 40 analyses by Ganguly, L'Ami et al.
YOUR PERSONAL CHESS COACH - Whether you’re taking your first steps into the world of club chess, or already playing at a tournament level: with FRITZ, you can train more efficiently, intelligently and with a more personalised approach than ever before.
In this powerful new course, endgame expert Karsten Müller teams up with rising star Leon Mendonca to deliver what truly matters: 10 essential rules that every player must know.
In this video course experts examine the games of Bent Larsen. Let them show you which openings Larsen chose, where his strength in middlegames were, how he outplayed his opponents in the endgame & you’ll get a glimpse of his tactical abilities!
From the 2026 Candidates Tournament, featuring a video review by Dorian Rogozenco, to Jan Werle’s opening video on the French Tarrasch Defence, and Oliver Reeh’s tactical column ‘Top Grandmasters at Work’. Analyses by Giri, So, Wei Yi and many others.
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