Chess

Chess Betting at VivatBet

Chess. It’s not the first sport that comes to mind for betting. But here’s the thing – chess has exploded in popularity over the last few years. Online streaming, the pandemic, and a Netflix show called The Queen’s Gambit all helped. Suddenly, millions of people are watching grandmasters play 3-hour matches. And where there are viewers, there’s betting.

The World Chess Championship is the big one. Every two years, the best player in the world plays a match for the title. But there are also major tournaments like the Candidates Tournament, Grand Chess Tour events, and online blitz and rapid championships. Plenty of action for punters who know their bishops from their knights.

Chess is different from most sports. There’s no luck involved. No weather, no referee decisions, no injuries during the game. It’s pure skill and psychology. That makes it very predictable in some ways – the higher-rated player wins most of the time. But upsets happen. Magnus Carlsen lost when he was world champion. Anyone can have a bad day.

Popular Chess Betting Markets

Match Winner. Pick which player wins the match. In the World Championship, it’s a best of 14 games. First to 7.5 points wins. Draws are common, so the match can go the distance.

Game Winner. Bet on who wins a specific game within a match. Games can end in a draw, so there’s a draw market too. In classical chess, draws are very common – sometimes 70% of games.

Draw or Decisive Result. Will the game end in a draw or will someone win? Draws pay less than a win for either player because they’re more likely.

Number of Moves. Over/under on total moves in a game. A long grinding game might go 50+ moves. A quick tactical game could be over in 25.

Time Control Winner. Who wins a blitz or rapid playoff if the match is tied? Some players are much better at fast chess than slow chess.

Tournament Winner (Outright). Pick who wins a multi-player tournament like the Candidates or Tata Steel. This is harder than picking a match winner – more players, more variables.

Head to Head (Round Robin). In a tournament, two specific players against each other. Doesn’t matter where they finish overall – just who beats who in their individual game.

The Big Events to Watch

World Chess Championship. The biggest title in chess. Held every two years. Match play – 14 classical games. If tied, rapid and blitz tiebreaks. The winner is world champion for two years.

Candidates Tournament. Eight players, double round robin (each player plays every other player twice). The winner qualifies to play the world champion. Very tough mentally.

Grand Chess Tour. Series of top-level tournaments throughout the year. Different formats – classical, rapid, blitz. The overall winner is the tour champion.

World Rapid and Blitz Championships. Shorter time controls. Faster games, more upsets, more exciting for casual viewers. The action is non-stop.

Online Events (Champions Chess Tour). Played on computers. Rapid and blitz formats. Younger players often dominate online.

The Big Names to Know

Magnus Carlsen (Norway). Was world champion for 10 years. Widely considered the greatest of all time. Stepped down from defending his title but still plays top events. Incredibly complete player – classical, rapid, blitz, he’s good at everything.

Ding Liren (China). Current world champion. Won the title in 2023. Very solid, very hard to beat. Not as flashy as Carlsen but incredibly consistent.

Hikaru Nakamura (USA). Streaming superstar. World number one in blitz and rapid. Very popular with online fans. Dangerous in fast time controls.

Ian Nepomniachtchi (Russia). Challenged for the world title twice. Very strong classical player. Plays sharp, attacking chess.

Fabiano Caruana (USA). American grandmaster. Challenged Carlsen in 2018. Excellent preparation, very solid technically.

Alireza Firouzja (France). Young star. Very attacking, very creative. Still developing but already beating the best.

Levon Aronian (USA). Veteran. Still playing top events. Known for beautiful, creative chess.

Viswanathan Anand (India). Former world champion. Now in his 50s but still competitive in rapid and blitz. Legend of the game.

What to Look For Before You Bet

Elo Rating. The rating system in chess is very accurate. A player rated 2800 is better than a player rated 2700. The higher rated player wins most of the time. But not always. A 100-point rating gap means the higher rated player wins about 65% of games.

Head to Head Record. Some players just match up well against others. Carlsen had a good record against Caruana. Nakamura struggled against Carlsen. The history matters.

Time Control. A player might be great at classical chess (slow) but average at blitz (fast). Know which format you’re betting on. The World Championship is classical. The Champions Chess Tour is rapid and blitz. Very different skills.

Recent Form. Look at the last few tournaments. A player on a winning streak has confidence. Someone who lost five games in a row might be in a slump.

Opening Preparation. In a match, players prepare openings specifically for their opponent. A player who finds a surprise opening can gain a big advantage. In a tournament, preparation is less targeted.

Psychology. Chess is mentally draining. A player who loses a close game might be affected in the next game. A player who wins a long, hard-fought game gains momentum. Watch the body language if you can.

Home Crowd. In some tournaments, the local player gets support. In the World Championship, the venue alternates. Playing at home can help – or add pressure.

Live Betting on Chess

Chess is surprisingly good for live betting. The games are long – three hours or more. You can watch the position develop and bet on the outcome as it unfolds.

If a player wins a pawn in the opening, their odds to win will shorten. But if that pawn doesn’t lead to a clear advantage, the odds might drift back.

The best live betting moments are endgames. A drawn endgame can be winning if one player makes a mistake. If you see a player low on time and in a tricky position, you can bet on their opponent.

Computer analysis is available for every game. The engine tells you who is winning. But the engine doesn’t account for human error – a player might miss a winning move or blunder a piece.

Tips for Chess Betting

Follow chess news. Players withdraw from tournaments. Players have bad form. A player who just had a child might be sleep deprived. The news matters.

Don’t just bet on the highest rated player. Magnus Carlsen was the best, but he lost games. The world champion loses. The gap between top players is small. A 10/1 shot can definitely win a tournament.

Watch the games if you can. Chess is on YouTube and Twitch. The commentary is good, even for beginners. Watching helps you understand who is playing well and who is struggling.

Consider draws. In classical chess, draws are common. A player might be happy to draw against a stronger opponent. Betting on a draw at 3/1 or 4/1 can be smart in certain matchups.

Start with match winner bets. Picking a tournament winner is hard – too many players. Picking a match winner is easier. Two players, one winner (or draw).

Common Questions About Chess Betting

Do you offer chess betting at VivatBet?
Yes. We cover the World Chess Championship, Candidates Tournament, Grand Chess Tour, and major online events. Not every small tournament, but all the big ones.

Is chess betting popular?
It’s growing fast. The online chess boom has brought millions of new fans. Many of them want to bet on their favourite players. It’s still smaller than football or tennis, but the trend is upward.

How do I read chess odds?
Same as any sport – fractional odds. Magnus Carlsen at 2/1 to win a tournament means a €10 bet returns €20 profit plus your stake.

Why are draws so common in chess?
At the top level, players are very good at defending. If both players play perfectly, the game ends in a draw. Mistakes are what decide games. That’s why top players sometimes agree to a draw early – they know the position is equal.

Give chess betting a try. The World Championship is on every two years – that’s your starting point. Watch the games, follow the analysis, and put a small bet on a player you fancy. You’ll learn the game, and you might make some money along the way.