Marc Allday

Dear Chess Lovers, I am proud to announce that, together with the Philippine Chess Federation, we are launching the WR Bughouse Championship. Many of you know that over the past years I have organized private high-level bughouse events. What started as a niche format has grown into something much bigger. Now, we are taking it to the global stage. In June, we will officially launch this major championship together with our partners in the Philippines. After the WR Chess Masters, this will become our second flagship event in bughouse - a format that is rapidly gaining popularity, especially across Asia. At the same time, this is part of a bigger vision. I want to develop chess further - to open new formats, reach new audiences, and bring new energy into the game. Chess must not only be respected. It must also be enjoyed. Bughouse represents exactly that: speed, creativity, teamwork, and pure emotion. It brings people together and shows a dynamic, accessible side of chess. This is not just about competition. It is about bringing more fun into chess, without losing its depth. The WR Chess Team will participate with Hikaru Nakamura and myself. 1. We are setting a $100,000 prize fund, with $50,000 for first place 2. Participation is limited to 100 teams only 3. Registration will open soon - first come, first served We expect strong international interest, so early registration is strongly recommended. Format & Rules: We will play under the classical rules of bughouse: * No checkmate allowed using dropped pieces * Unique promotion rule: a promoted pawn allows you to take any piece from the partner’s opponent’s board * Captured pieces are transferred between partners * Fast-paced format: 5+0 time control Tournament structure: * Day 1: 12 rounds * Day 2: Knockout stage with the Top 8 teams, best of 2 games per match This event will not be broadcast, as there is currently no platform that fully supports this format at the level we require. For now, this will be pure over-the-board competition - fast, direct, and uncompromising. If anyone believes they can change this - or provide a solution that meets our standards - let me know. I would like to sincerely thank the Philippine Chess Federation for making this event possible. We welcome players from all over the world. And one more thing - Hikaru and I have not lost a single game together.