Over more than a century and a half of organized chess, the world has seen thousands of tournaments - but only a select few have truly become great. Winning a prestigious chess tournament grants not only access to prize money, but also status, influence, and the right to be considered among the strongest players in the world.
It was at such events that Magnus Carlsen, Garry Kasparov, and Emanuel Lasker proved their dominance - players who defined entire eras. These tournaments have witnessed the world’s greatest grandmasters and some of the most intense games in chess history. Their story is, in many ways, the story of chess itself.
What Makes a Tournament “Great”?
Prestige in chess is measured not only by prize funds (although they matter too), but also by historical legacy. We have selected three tournaments where victory automatically inscribes a player’s name into the pantheon of chess immortality. These events represent different formats - from classical “marathons” to the most demanding competitive structures.
FIDE World Chess Championship Match
No. 1 in the world
Since: 1886
Format: 14-game match
Frequency: every two years
Prize fund: ≈ $2M
The pinnacle of the chess world. No other event matches the World Championship in terms of intensity, historical significance, and psychological pressure. Two players - the reigning champion and the challenger - face off in a long match where every mistake carries enormous weight. The first official match took place in 1886 between Wilhelm Steinitz and Johannes Zukertort. Since then, the title has been held by giants such as Emanuel Lasker (27 years as champion), José Raúl Capablanca, Alexander Alekhine, Mikhail Botvinnik, Anatoly Karpov, and Garry Kasparov.
Legendary clash: The Karpov-Kasparov match of 1984–1985 became the longest in history: 48 games over 5 months. FIDE eventually terminated the match without declaring a winner, with Karpov leading 5-3. The rematch in 1985 was won by Kasparov.
Current format: 14 classical games; if tied, the match is decided by rapid and blitz tiebreaks. The challenger is determined through the Candidates Tournament - one of the most grueling events in the chess calendar.
FIDE Candidates Tournament
Since: 1950
Format: 8 players, double round-robin
Frequency: every two years
Prize fund: ≈ $500K
Eight of the world’s strongest players - including winners of the World Cup and FIDE Grand Prix, as well as top-rated players - compete in a double round-robin tournament. The winner earns the right to challenge the reigning World Champion. In essence, this is the second most important tournament in chess. The Candidates Tournament is defined by immense psychological pressure: even a minor miscalculation or an unnecessary draw can cost a player their dream of reaching the World Championship match.
2024 edition: Toronto hosted the most recent Candidates Tournament. Gukesh Dommaraju delivered a dominant performance, becoming the youngest winner in the event’s history. He later went on to win the World Championship title by defeating Ding Liren.
Linares Chess Tournament
(Torneo Internacional de Ajedrez de Linares)
Since: 1978
Format: 8-10 players, round-robin
Frequency: annual (regularly held until 2010)
Prize fund: up to $400K
Linares, a small Spanish town, became a true chess Mecca. For decades, this tournament brought together the world’s best players and was consistently known for its exceptionally high level of play. It was here that Kasparov dominated with remarkable authority, winning the event nine times. The average rating of participants in Linares often exceeded 2700 - and even 2750 - Elo points, which at the time was an extraordinary level. The tournament became famous for its fierce competition and a high number of decisive games.
In chess, prestige is never accidental - it is built over decades through elite lineups, dramatic battles, and legendary names that shape the game’s history. Tournaments such as the World Championship match, the Candidates Tournament, and Linares set the standard that every grandmaster aspires to reach.
Source: whychess.com
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