CHESS

Chess.com, which recently took over Play Magnus Group and its associated companies, has announced that the 2023 Champions Tour, previously on chess24, will be revamped and expanded, with a $2m prize fund.

The Tour starts with the Airthings Masters on 6 February, where Magnus Carlsen will compete, followed on 13 February by the first open qualifier. The format is quite complex, essentially giving many more players a chance to win serious

money. Previous Tours have been criticised because the top prizes were effectively restricted to a few of the GM elite.

There have been rumours that the viewing platform on chess24, a favourite for many who enjoy its high-quality analysis, would close following the merger with chess.com.

However, the Guardian understands that only the Oslo base, which provides commentary for less-experienced players, and where England’s David Howell and Jovanka Houska appear regularly, will switch to chess.com. Chess24 will still continue expert commentary on the Airthings Masters, with the popular Peter Leko one of the team.