Frequently Asked Questions

Fantasy Chess is a game where participants create virtual teams composed of real-world chess players. These players don't compete together in real life, that's what makes it "fantasy." Instead, users act like team managers, selecting players from ongoing chess tournaments to build their dream teams. As the tournament unfolds, your team earns points based on the real-life performance of your chosen players. The better your selections, the higher your score, increasing your chances of winning a prize.

In Fantasy Chess, you pick players from active chess tournaments to form your virtual team. Your team's success depends on how well those players perform in their actual matches. The game offers both free-entry and paid-entry contests, each with prize pools. Your skill comes into play as you analyze players' form, strength, and style to make the smartest picks.

Fantasy Titled Tuesday is a fantasy game based on Chess.com's Titled Tuesday, a weekly online chess tournament held every Tuesday for titled players like Grandmasters, International Masters, and others. In the fantasy version, you act as a team manager, selecting a virtual team of real-world players to compete for points based on their performance in the actual Titled Tuesday event.

• Player Selection: Since Titled Tuesday doesn't announce its participant list in advance, Fantasy Titled Tuesday provides a list of "regular" players who frequently participate, based on their past involvement. These players are likely—but not guaranteed—to join the tournament. You choose your main players from this list to form your team.
• Scoring: Your team earns points based on how well your selected players perform in the Titled Tuesday tournament.
• Uncertainty Factor: Because participation isn't confirmed beforehand, there's an element of strategy in picking players you think are most likely to show up and perform well.
• Substitutes: To account for the possibility that a main player might not participate, you also select substitute players (explained in detail below).

A substitution player is a reserve you select to replace a main player who doesn't participate, leaves before round 6 in Titled Tuesday. A sub only steps in if your main player doesn't show up, and the swap is permanent for that tournament. A substitute must be lower-rated than the main player he/she replaces (e.g., a 3100-rated player can sub for a 3200-rated player, but not vice versa).

Pick substitutes who are likely to participate in Titled Tuesday (check the "regulars" list) and have solid performance records but are rated lower than your main players. This maximizes your chances of a seamless substitution without violating the rating rule.

No, Fantasy Chess is not gambling. It's classified as a game of skill, not a game of chance. In most U.S. states, including Illinois (where the company is based), fantasy sports are legally recognized as skill-based competitions, not gambling. While luck might have a small influence, long-term success hinges on your chess knowledge, strategic thinking, and decision-making—think of it like managing a chess-themed investment portfolio rather than rolling the dice.

Yes, Fantasy Chess is legal in most places where fantasy sports are recognized as games of skill. In the U.S., this includes states like Illinois. However, laws differ by country, and in some regions, paid-entry contests might be subject to local gambling regulations. We advise checking your local laws before joining paid events to ensure compliance.