The 2018 Sinquefield Cup is an elite international event, featuring 10 of the strongest chess players in the world. Over the course of nine rounds, these competitors will battle for $300,000 in prize money, points toward the Grand Chess Tour, and the coveted title of 2018 Sinquefield Cup Champion.
| DATES | August 17 - 28, 2018 |
|---|---|
| LOCATION | Saint Louis Chess Club |
| FORMAT | 10-Player Round Robin |
| PRIZE FUND | $300,000 |
| SPECTATORS | PURCHASE TICKETS HERE |
| Photos | For event photos, visit our Flickr page. |
2017 Sinquefield Cup Champion, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave with Dr. Jeanne and Rex Sinquefield
Alexander Grischuk • Fabiano Caruana • Hikaru Nakamura • Levon Aronian • Maxime Vachier-Lagrave • Shakhriyar Mamedyarov • Sergey Karjakin • Viswanathan Anand • Wesley So • Magnus Carlsen (WC)
Schedule of Events
| DATE | TIME* | EVENT |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, August 16 | 1:00 PM | Ultimate Moves |
| Friday, August 17 | 4-5:30 PM | Autograph Signing |
| 6:00 PM | Opening Ceremony** | |
| Saturday, August 18 | 1:00 PM | Round 1 |
| Sunday, August 19 | 1:00 PM | Round 2 |
| Monday, August 20 | 1:00 PM | Round 3 |
| Tuesday, August 21 | 1:00 PM | Round 4 |
| Wednesday, August 22 | 1:00 PM | Round 5 |
| Thursday, August 23 | Rest Day | |
| Friday, August 24 | 1:00 PM | Round 6 |
| Saturday, August 25 | 1:00 PM | Round 7 |
| Sunday, August 26 | 1:00 PM | Round 8 |
| Monday, August 27 | 1:00 PM | Round 9 |
| Tuesday, August 28 | 1:00 PM | Playoff (if necessary) |
| 6:00 PM | Closing Ceremony** |
* All times listed are CDT (GMT-5). Dates and times subject to change.
**Private Event by invite only
Sinquefield Cup Prize Fund
| PLACE | PRIZE | PLACE | PRIZE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | $75,000 | 6th | $20,000 |
| 2nd | $50,000 | 7th | $15,000 |
| 3rd | $40,000 | 8th | $15,000 |
| 4th | $30,000 | 9th | $15,000 |
| 5th | $25,000 | 10th | $15,000 |
| Total Prize Fund | $300,000 | ||
Autograph Day Guidelines: August 17, 4-5:30 P.M.
Meet & Greet Autograph Session Attendees are welcome to bring their own items to be autographed, and singable merchandise will be available for purchase at the Saint Louis Chess Club. Due to time constraints, each person will be allowed one autograph per player. In order to accommodate as many attendees as possible, photos with players will not be allowed. This is a first-come, first-served event.
At this year's autograph day, we will also have a special autograph session with the authors of The Sinquefield Cup Celebrating Five Years 2013 - 2017. In this commemorative book, authors Maurice Ashley, Tatev Abrahamyan, Alejandro Ramirez, Yasser Seirawan, and Jennifer Shahade each examine a year of America's strongest international tournament, along with photographs, games, and more. Anyone who purchases this book, on sale for $50, on autograph day will receive their normal membership discount (if applicable) and a ticket to one round of the Sinquefield Cup.
Live Spectator Accommodations
Spectators are welcome to watch the rounds live at the Saint Louis Chess Club with a $10/round ticket. Tickets will include the following:
- Access to theater style seating in the main lobby to view commentary of the event with light snacks and beverages
- Access to watch the players live on the second floor (no cell phones permitted)
- Live commentary and group discussion with Grandmasters next door at Kingside Diner with beverage station
- 50% discount on food at Kingside Diner located next door
- Valet parking available Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
The Chess Club has special hotel rates with the following establishments. Please make sure to ask for the "chess rate" when making reservations. Tickets to watch the tournament live are available here >