Chess.com has announced its biggest celebrity tournament yet in the form of SuperPogChamps, bringing in past champions and players who were too high-skilled to compete in prior events.
PogChamps is one of Chess.com’s most popular events, typically featuring novices consisting of streamers, celebrities, and stars in other games.
Following PogChamps 6, which was hit with controversy due to a cheating scandal involving DrLupo, this new tournament will be the most stacked yet with a $50,000 prize pool.
SuperPogChamps will be notable because it will feature some of the biggest names and competitors who have only gotten better in their chess journeys, such as Tyler1, who has risen to become part of the top 0.5% of all players globally.
Who is competing in SuperPogChamps?
Perhaps the most interesting inclusion to this event is Andrea Botez, who is one of the world’s top chess streamers alongside her sister, Alexandra.
She has goal in mind, too. “My entire professional chess career has led to this moment. I must defeat Tyler1,” she said when the tournament was announced.
SonicFox, one of the world’s most successful fighting game players, was originally invited to play in PogChamps 5, but was actually too strong to participate, so Chess.com gave them their own bot instead.
They’re not the only fighting game star competing either. Sparg0, one of the world’s best Smash Ultimate players, will also be aiming to add yet another trophy to his collection.
Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated actor Masi Oka will also be chasing glory and says it’s an “honor” to be competing in the star-stacked event.
Rounding out the field is Cincinnati Reds outfielder Will Benson, PogChamps 1 winner Voyboy, PogChamps 5 Consolation Bracket winner Wirtual, singer Linda Diaz, and comedian Samay Raina.
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