The world of competitive chess witnessed a staggering financial milestone in 2025, with World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen establishing a league of his own. According to a report compiled by Chess.com, the Norwegian legend was the only chess player to cross the seven-figure mark in prize money earnings for the year, amassing a colossal $1.5 million (approximately Rs 13.3 crore). This feat underscores his dominance even as he selectively participates in classical events.
Carlsen's Million-Dollar Dominance
Despite a limited classical schedule, Carlsen's prowess across various formats ensured his position at the pinnacle of the earnings chart. His financial haul came from victories and performances in premier tournaments. These included the Esports World Cup, the World Rapid and Blitz Championship, and the Norway Chess tournament—his sole classical event of the year. Significant contributions also came from the Clutch Chess exhibition and his triumph in the Freestyle Grand Slam Tour in South Africa.
This windfall in 2025 has propelled Carlsen's total career prize money from chess to an astonishing $12,232,249 (around Rs 109 crore), solidifying his status as the sport's highest earner by a significant margin.
Indian Stars Make Their Mark on Global List
The 2025 list brought cheer for Indian chess fans, with several prodigies securing prominent spots. Leading the Indian charge was Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi, who earned a whopping $431,214 (roughly Rs 3.8 crore) in prize money. This impressive sum placed him 8th in the global rankings, ahead of many established names.
Close on his heels was the sensational R Praggnanandhaa, who had a stellar year winning multiple events and securing a spot in the prestigious Candidates tournament. Praggnanandhaa finished 12th globally with earnings of $317,122 (approximately Rs 2.8 crore).
World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju, who had a roller-coaster year with extensive play but mixed results, found himself in 17th position. He raked in $202,292 (about Rs 1.8 crore) in prize money. Chess legend Koneru Humpy also featured on the list, taking home $134,480 (around Rs 1.2 crore) in 2025.
The Global Contenders and Notable Absences
The chase behind Carlsen was led by a trio of American stalwarts. Fabiano Caruana secured the second spot with $889,598, followed by Levon Aronian at $751,881 and streaming superstar Hikaru Nakamura at $588,911.
Reigning women's world champion Ju Wenjun emerged as the top female player on the list. Her earnings of $342,203 placed her just outside the top 10, at 11th position worldwide.
The report highlighted the lean year for former World Champion Ding Liren, who was dethroned by Gukesh in late 2024. Playing very few events in 2025, Ding Liren earned only $6,000, solely from the Chess.com Classic leg of the Champions Chess Tour.
It is crucial to note that these figures represent only tournament prize money. They do not include substantial additional income streams for top players, such as:
- Appearance fees for tournaments
- Sponsorship and endorsement deals
- Revenue from streaming and content creation
- Government grants and incentives
- Earnings from national championships and team events
The 2025 earnings report paints a clear picture of chess's growing financial ecosystem, with Magnus Carlsen reigning supreme and a talented cohort of Indian grandmasters beginning to carve out lucrative careers on the global stage.
