Crazyhouse World Championship 2025: Candidates Stage
This official announcement covers the rules, format, and other important information regarding the Candidates Stage of the Crazyhouse World Championship 2025, in addition to the official announcement of the full event
Donations
Community contributions towards the prize pool — to support this event as well as the sustainability of the CWC for future editions — can be made here:
https://tiltify.com/@lichess/personal/cwc-2025-prize-fund
Prizes
- Winner of the event: €300
- Runner-up: €200
- 3rd place in the candidates: €120
- 4rd place in the candidates: €110
- 5rd place in the candidates: €90
- 6rd place in the candidates: €70
- 7rd place in the candidates: €60
- 8rd place in the candidates: €50
Total: €1000
Participants
This year's edition features a very strong field — half of the players are Grandmasters. Seven out of eight candidates are titled players.
The official list of players who have qualified for the Candidates Stage:
- @GRXbullet
- @gsvc
- @larso
- @FeegLood
- @littleplotkin
- @Crazy_Eight
- @Neutralizerr
- @Brown_Player
Schedule
Round 1: 09.11-15.11
Round 2: 16.11-22.11
Round 3: 23.11-29.11
Round 4: 30.11-06.12
Round 5: 07.12-13.12
Round 6: 14.12-20.11
Round 7: 21.12-27.12
Players may arrange their matches in advance, prior to these dates (by following the scheduling rules below), and are encouraged to do so. Following the order of the pairings is not mandatory but serves as a guideline.
However, players must schedule at least one match per week and maintain this pace (see below).
Scheduling rules:
-
The scheduling window for each round is one week.
-
If a player wishes to use a one-week extension (granted only once), they must contact the organizers to request it.
-
For exceptional circumstances, please contact the organizers directly.
The rules regarding no-shows are the same as in the previous stage:
Scheduled matches must be posted under this thread, including the time and date, ideally at least one day in advance, so that streamers and others can be informed.
After the match, the result must be posted in the same thread within 48 hours.
Matches that do not meet both of these criteria — (1) posting the match time beforehand, and (2) posting the result — will not be counted as an official score.
Match Rules
-
Each match consists of 10 games of 3+2 rated Crazyhouse.
-
Each game won is worth 1 point, each draw 0.5 points, and each loss 0 points.
-
Match points are awarded as follows:
Pairings, Standings and Results
See here
Previous Stage Double Elimination Knockout
Grand Final Qualification
The two players with the most points by the end of the Candidates Stage will qualify for the Grand Final. Match points will be used as the first tiebreak criterion for the standings in Candidates Stage. Individual encounters will be used as the second tiebreak criterion. Followed by the number of match wins and eventually a direct tiebreak match with best of 6 - and mini-matches of best of 2 until the tie is broken in the match).
Good luck to all players!
**Crazyhouse World Championship 2025: Candidates Stage**
This official announcement covers the rules, format, and other important information regarding the Candidates Stage of the **Crazyhouse World Championship 2025**, in addition to [the official announcement of the full event](https://lichess.org/@/visualdennis/blog/announcing-the-crazyhouse-world-championship-2025/CMcYy3sy)
**Donations**
Community contributions towards the prize pool — to support this event as well as the **sustainability of the CWC for future editions** — can be made here:
https://tiltify.com/@lichess/personal/cwc-2025-prize-fund
**Prizes**
- Winner of the event: €300
- Runner-up: €200
- 3rd place in the candidates: €120
- 4rd place in the candidates: €110
- 5rd place in the candidates: €90
- 6rd place in the candidates: €70
- 7rd place in the candidates: €60
- 8rd place in the candidates: €50
Total: €1000
**Participants**
This year's edition features a very strong field — half of the players are Grandmasters. Seven out of eight candidates are titled players.
**The official list of players who have qualified for the Candidates Stage:**
1) @GRXbullet
2) @gsvc
3) @larso
4) @FeegLood
5) @littleplotkin
6) @Crazy_Eight
7) @Neutralizerr
8) @Brown_Player
**Schedule**
Round 1: 09.11-15.11
Round 2: 16.11-22.11
Round 3: 23.11-29.11
Round 4: 30.11-06.12
Round 5: 07.12-13.12
Round 6: 14.12-20.11
Round 7: 21.12-27.12
Players may arrange their matches in advance, prior to these dates (by following the scheduling rules below), and are encouraged to do so. Following the order of the pairings is not mandatory but serves as a guideline.
However, players must schedule **at least one match per week** and maintain this pace (see below).
**Scheduling rules:**
- The scheduling window for each round is one week.
- If a player wishes to use a one-week extension (granted only once), they must contact the organizers to request it.
- For exceptional circumstances, please contact the organizers directly.
The rules regarding **no-shows** are the same as in the previous stage:
- First no-show Warning
- Second no-show Possible forfeit
- The official waiting time is 20 minutes.
Scheduled matches must be posted under this thread, including the **time and date**, ideally **at least one day in advance**, so that streamers and others can be informed.
After the match, the **result must be posted** in the same thread within **48 hours**.
Matches that do not meet **both** of these criteria — (1) posting the match time beforehand, and (2) posting the result — **will not be counted as an official score.**
**Match Rules**
- Each match consists of 10 games of 3+2 rated Crazyhouse.
- Each game won is worth 1 point, each draw 0.5 points, and each loss 0 points.
- Match points are awarded as follows:
- 2 points for a match win
- 1 point for a match draw
- 0 points for a match loss
**Pairings, Standings and Results**
**See [here](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1DE3VQdIdEg-KwqzBR1cwbiSqV2fbFoU2J9smHz1WWrI/edit?usp=sharing )**
Previous Stage [Double Elimination Knockout](https://challonge.com/rkmdohb)
**Grand Final Qualification**
The **two players with the most points** by the end of the Candidates Stage will qualify for the **Grand Final**. Match points will be used as the first **tiebreak** criterion for the standings in Candidates Stage. Individual encounters will be used as the second tiebreak criterion. Followed by the number of match wins and eventually a direct tiebreak match with best of 6 - and mini-matches of best of 2 until the tie is broken in the match).
Good luck to all players!
