Arlington, Texas is hosting a unique chess exhibition event today, October 4, 2025, pitting a team from the United States against a team from India in "Checkmate: USA vs India". The event is taking place at the Esports Stadium in Arlington, which has a seating capacity of 2,500.
The organizers of "Checkmate: USA vs. India" aim to capture the attention of both dedicated chess enthusiasts and a wider audience by presenting chess in a new, engaging format. Salim Belcadi of Checkmate Strategic Ventures, the lead organizer, stated that the event intends to unite top players, organizers, sponsors, and streamers to reshape chess entertainment. The inspiration for this event came after witnessing the large crowds and viewership during the FIDE Candidates 2024 tournament.
The competition features five boards, each showcasing a different aspect of the chess world, including top players, women's champions, influencers, and rising stars. The lineup includes a mix of established stars, content creators, women's champions, and junior prodigies.
Here's a breakdown of the matchups:
- Board 1: GM Hikaru Nakamura (USA) vs. GM Gukesh Dommaraju (India). This is perhaps the most anticipated matchup, featuring the world champion Gukesh against Nakamura, who is currently ranked number two in the world.
- Board 2: GM Fabiano Caruana (USA) vs. GM Arjun Erigaisi (India). Caruana, a former World Championship challenger, will face the rising star Arjun, who has quickly climbed to world number four.
- Board 3: IM Carissa Yip (USA) vs. IM Divya Deshmukh (India). This match features two of the most exciting young female players in chess.
- Board 4: IM Levy Rozman (USA, GothamChess) vs. IM Sagar Shah (India, ChessBase India). This duel brings together two prominent chess ambassadors with a combined following of 10 million.
- Board 5: FM Tani Adewumi (USA) vs. IM Ethan Vaz (India). This match showcases two 14-year-old prodigies.
The format of the matches is designed to be fast-paced and exciting. Each player will have 10 minutes on the clock. If the game ends in a draw, there will be a 5-minute overtime period. If the game is still drawn, a 1-minute bullet shootout will occur, repeating until a winner is determined. A 1-second increment will be applied. Resigning is not an option; all matches must be played until completion.
Team USA will play with the white pieces on all boards for this home match. A second leg of the event is expected to take place in India, where Team India will have the white pieces.
Nakamura expressed his excitement for the event, stating that it elevates chess to the next level. He also acknowledged India's rise as a significant force in global chess and emphasized the desire to showcase American talent and the thrilling, competitive nature of chess.
The event promises a spectacle, complete with player walk-ins, light shows, and national anthems. Each game will be staged individually to focus attention on one board at a time. The event is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. in Arlington, Texas (8:00 p.m. ET / 02:00 CEST / 5:30 a.m. IST).
