Legends meet again: Anand and Kasparov all set to renew their rivalry with thrilling showdown

One of the most nostalgic and respected rivalries for chess fans is all set to return as Viswanathan Anand gets ready to take on Garry Kasparov in an exhibition match. The two grandmasters, who were at the top of the chess world in the 1990s and early 2000s, will once again face each other over the board, and this time in St. Louis for a special event titled Clutch Chess: The Legends.

The once-in-a-generation match will start on October 8, 2025, at the newly expanded campus of Saint Louis Chess Club. Fans are excited to watch the two legends go head-to-head again as their rivalry dates back more than three decades. Anand, as a young prodigy from India, once challenged the dominance of the Russian chess king Kasparov, and it is still fresh in the minds of die-hard fans.

🔥 “Old rivalry. Completely new setting.”@vishy64theking is back at the Saint Louis Chess Club to face off against @Kasparov63 in Clutch Chess: The Legends.

Two icons. One board. History, once again, in the making!#VishyAnand #Kasparov #ClutchChess #ChessLegends… pic.twitter.com/VTFbWFpT7N

— Saint Louis Chess Club (@STLChessClub) October 7, 2025

The two played a total of 82 games in their active careers, with Kasparov leading the head-to-head record. One of their most memorable clashes came during the 1995 World Championship in New York, held at the World Trade Center. Even though Kasparov mostly had the upper hand in their prime years, Anand’s brilliant performances made him a worthy opponent.

Anand went on to become a World Champion himself and is known as one of the legendary players to have ever graced the game. Anand’s last meeting with Kasparov was in 2021 at the Zagreb Grand Chess Tour Blitz, where Anand won both their games. Now, they are all set to return to the board four years later in a completely different format.

Here’s everything to know about the thrilling showdown.  

What is the format for the Anand vs Kasparov match?

Clutch Chess: The Legends event will feature 12 games of Chess960 (Fischer Random). The interesting part is that the points system will increase in value as the tournament progresses.

• Day 1: Win = 1 point

• Day 2: Win = 2 points

• Day 3: Win = 3 points

Each day will feature four games (2 rapid and 2 blitz), regardless of the overall scoreline. The time controls will include both rapid (25 minutes + 10 seconds increment) and blitz (5 minutes + 3 seconds increment) games.

What is the prize money for the Anand vs Kasparov match?

The total prize fund is $144,000 (approx Rs 1.2 crore). The winner will get $70,000 (Rs 62 lakh), while the runner-up will pocket $50,000 (Rs 44 lakh). Bonus prizes of $24,000 (Rs 21 lakh) will be distributed across match wins. Day-wise bonuses will also be given – $1,000 for each win on Day 1, $2,000 on Day 2, and $3,000 on Day 3.

Anand vs Kasparov: Venue and schedule

The match will take place at the Saint Louis Chess Club, which is reopening after major renovations. The schedule is as follows:

• Oct 6: Player arrival

• Oct 7: VIP autograph session (4:00 PM local time/2:30 AM IST next day)

• Oct 8: Day 1 (Games 1–4 from 12:00 PM local time/10:30 PM IST same day)

• Oct 9: Day 2 (Games 5–8 from 12:00 PM local time/10:30 PM IST same day)

• Oct 10: Day 3 (Games 9–12 from 12:00 PM local time/10:30 PM IST same day)

• Oct 11: Player departure

Where to watch the Anand vs Kasparov match?

Fans can catch every move of Anand vs Kasparov Clutch Chess: The Legends match live on the St. Louis Chess Club YouTube channel and official website.

The match will be followed by the 2025 US Championships (October 12-25) and later by the Clutch Chess: Champions Showdown (October 25-20), featuring the likes of five-time World Champion Magnus Carlsen, American GM Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana, and reigning World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju.