LCC Line Up Takes Shape

We’ve just announced the first eight competitors in our elite grandmaster tournament at the 2025 XTX Markets London Chess Classic. We are delighted to be welcoming four overseas players who will be making their debut at the LCC: Pavel Eljanov from Ukraine, Sam Shankland and Abhimanyu Mishra from USA, and Nikolas Theodorou from Greece. These grandmasters will be fighting it out with four of the UK’s top chess stars: Grandmasters Nikita Vitiugov, Michael Adams, Gawain Maroroa Jones, and Luke McShane.

This year’s tournament promises to be one of the most closely fought in the event’s history - just 43 rating points separate the field. How will the wealth of experience behind Pavel Eljanov (former second to Magnus Carlsen in a World Championship match) fare against the youthful energy of Mishra, the world’s youngest ever grandmaster? How will Nikolas Theodorou, the first Greek player to ever defeat a reigning World Champion at classical chess, play against “World’s Strongest Amateur” Luke McShane, who himself took down Magnus Carlsen at the 2010 London Chess Classic? Come along to the Emirates to find out.

We hope to announce the remaining two grandmasters in the next couple of weeks. In the meantime, if you would like the chance to play against some of these chess experts, why not consider joining us for the Super Rapid tournament at London Novotel West, 6th/7th December 2025. We hope to see you there.