The wait is over: Chess.com is happy to announce that the PRO Chess League is returning in 2023! The Professional Rapid Online League is the world’s premier online chess league for professional players. The 2023 season starts on February 1, with top grandmasters from around the world competing for a piece of the $100,000 prize fund.

There will be 16 teams this season, and for the first time in league history, anyone can apply to manage a squad! There will be 15 teams selected before the season begins with a three-day qualifying event to find team #16. Further league information is available at here and the form to apply is at the end of this announcement.

The PCL made history in 2017 when it became the first professional online rapid event open to players worldwide. The League immediately attracted some of the game’s brightest stars, including world champion Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana, Wesley So, and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov in just its first season. Since then other stars like Ian Nepomniachtchi, Ding Liren, Anish Giri, and more have also been PCL participants.

An immediate hit in a pre-pandemic age, the PCL built on its strong foundation and featured a live final in 2018 in San Francisco, which returned in 2019. Fans could gather and cheer for their favorite teams as they battled over the board. 

Now, after a two-year hiatus, the PCL is back in full force for its fifth complete season, featuring the same match format that players and viewers have grown to love. The action kicks off on February 2023 with the league’s first-ever qualifier, and ends in May when the best teams will face off at the live finals. 

As of now, applications are open for anyone who would like to be team managers in the 2023 Season of the PCL. Applications will be closed at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, October 16, 2022. Fill out the official form below if you wish to apply for a spot: