A game that can trace its origins all the way back to 6th-century India, chess is the ultimate battle of wits. It’s the classic board game that sees two opponents deploy their most intricate strategies to come out as the winner by capturing all of their opponent’s pieces.
The intellectual nature of the game means it has become a thrilling spectator sport, with grandmasters battling it out to be named the world’s best in chess. The excitement around the nail-biting action has led to chess betting becoming one of the fastest-growing Esports betting options.
Read on to find out more about how to bet on chess at Stake.com, as well as information on the game’s biggest names, the hottest tournaments, and more, before getting started placing chess bets at Stake Sportsbook.
Who are the Major Teams & Players in Chess?
There are a few names in professional chess that are as big as some of the hottest professional athletes in the world. These stars have become masters of their craft and risen up the FIDE rankings.
Magnus Carlsen
Norwegian star Magnus Carlsen is a five-time World Chess Champion and earned his grandmaster title when he was still a teen. Still just 34, he has the highest ever rating in the Elo rating system at 2882, as well as the longest elite-level chess match winning streak (125). The number one is signed with Team Liquid, an esports outfit with a strong roster in chess.
Hikaru Nakamura
This Japan-born US grandmaster is second only to Carlsen in the Elo ratings, and was the youngest American to achieve grandmaster status when he became one at just 15. He has been named U.S. Chess Champion five times, represented the US at the Chess Olympiad, and, while he is number two overall in chess, he’s number one for rapid and blitz chess. He is signed with Team Falcons as they look to establish themselves in the chess world.
Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu
Rameshbabu may be fourth in the rankings of elite chess players, but he is undoubtedly the most exciting prospect. The Indian prodigy was born in 2005 and has already come second in the 2023 World Chess Cup, as well as beating Magnus Carlsen in 2024. He’s signed alongside Carlsen at Team Liquid and is sure to claim some big wins.
Major Tournaments in Chess and Schedules
As with every sport on the planet, chess has some exciting and prestigious tournaments to look out for.
Grand Chess Tour
Technically, this isn’t just one tournament, it’s a circuit of them. Every year, a number of different tournaments and events are selected. Players will then battle it out for the prize pool in each tournament, as well as prizes based on where they finish overall. The first edition included the famous events, the London Chess Classic, the Sinquefield Cup, and Norway Chess.
The Grand Chess Tour 2025 runs from April 26 to October 4, with the finals taking place in São Paulo.
World Chess Championship
Undoubtedly the biggest tournament in the game, the World Chess Championship, determines the world’s best chess player. It has experienced turmoil in the past, when two competitors played the final under a breakaway federation. However, it has since unified and is now the most prestigious event on the chess calendar.
The World Chess Championship is held every two years, and sees the winner of the FIDE Circuit take on the best of the rest from other tournaments like the FIDE World Cup. The next event will be the FIDE World Championship 2026.
Esports World Cup
This may be one of the newest events on the schedule, but it has everything needed to be one of the biggest and best for years to come. The Esports World Cup sees players like Carlsen and Rameshbabu take to the stage, alongside more traditional Esports events like Valorant and Overwatch 2.
The Esports World Cup 2025 begins on July 8 and will run all the way to August 24. The chess tournament will take place from July 29 to August 1.
How to Bet on Chess & Types of Chess Bets
It’s easy to bet on chess at Stake. Here, we’ve broken down some of the most popular bet types you can add to your chess bet slip:
Outright: Outright betting is often called futures betting and refers to when you place a bet on the person or team you think will triumph in a tournament.
Match winner: Match winner betting is also known as moneyline betting. This is where you choose who you think will win an individual game.
Opening moves: This is a much more in-depth bet. Here, you can bet on what you think a player will open with, including Russian defence, English opening, and queen pawn.
Number of moves: How many moves do you think it will take before a player triumphs? You can set your number with number of moves bets.
To get started at one of the best chess betting platforms around, all you have to do is sign up and add money to your account. You can use our deposit and withdrawal guides to find out everything you need to know.
What makes Stake the best online platform for chess betting is that you can even watch some of the biggest games with our extensive event coverage. You can find everything in our live events lists, and place real time chess bets on upcoming fixtures. For more information, you can see our live streaming guide and comparison of live vs pre-match betting.
Chess Betting Odds Odds & Payouts
If you’re betting on chess at Stake, it’s no different to betting on other sports, including staking on soccer or betting on American football. You can find all the best chess betting odds in the format of your choosing. Our odds reading guide will help you understand the options and calculate your potential payouts.
Chess Betting Tips & Strategies
There are no guarantees in chess betting, but there are some tips to keep up your sleeve:
Study the form: Know if your chosen player is in good form, and look at previous meetings
Know the game type: There are different game formats to look out for. For example, Rapid & Blitz 2025 is a tournament that only plays the rapid and blitz formats - no classic games.
Bet Bonuses & Responsible Gambling Online
As well as being able to place a bet on the hottest chess action, you can also make the most of some of the best Esports betting promotions around. These include rakebacks and reloads, as well as weekly raffles and more.
Depending on your staking history, you may be eligible for our VIP Club. If so, you can achieve a number of different reward levels, including a VIP host who can grant you personalized bonuses and help with VIP queries.
