Spectators
Spectator tickets will be available for anyone who wants to watch the grandmasters of our Masters and Challengers events in action. Visitors will be able to view the games live in the playing hall, or enjoy grandmaster analysis in the commentary area. Spectator tickets will go on sale on this page at 12pm on Wednesday 2nd September.
Round 1 of the LCC masters will take place on Wednesday 25th November. The tournament continues until Friday 4th December, with a rest day on Monday 30th November. All games start at 4pm. The opening two rounds of the Masters/Challengers events will be held at private venues and commentary will be broadcast online only on Wednesday 25th November and Thursday 26th November. Spectating is only available for rounds 3-9 when the LCC Masters/Challengers take place alongside the LCC Festival at London Novotel West. Spectators will also be able to watch the events in the festival.
Our Commentary Team
We will be announcing our team of expert commentators here soon. At the 2025 XTX Markets London Chess Classic, our commentary team consisted of David Howell, Leinier Dominguez Perez, Antoaneta Stefanova, Stuart Conquest, Stephen Gordon, Aloizje Jankovic, and Daniel King.
Spectating - FAQ
Where/when do I spectate?
The London Novotel West opens to spectators at 3pm on rounds 3-9 of the elite event (schedule here). Grandmaster commentary begins at 4pm.
Use of Cameras/Video Equipment
Spectators are welcome to take photographs and/or video footage of the tournament for the following amount of time:
The first 10 minutes of the first round of the LCC Masters
The first 5 minutes of any other round of any tournament
Spectators must use either a camera or video equipment. The camera’s flash should be switched off. Mobile phones may not be used to take photographs at any time during play.
The above regulations notwithstanding, the tournament’s official Press Officers are entitled to take photographs and/or video footage at other times during play with the permission of an arbiter.
Mobile Phones are Banned from the Playing Area
A spectator will be asked to leave the playing area if during play any such device either
(a) makes any sound; or
(b) is found to be switched on; or
(c) is found to be about their person or being carried by them.
Spectators may leave their phones in the cloakroom or at the Organisers’ Desk but they do so at their own risk.
Roped Off Areas
There may be an area, near the top boards, which is roped off to spectators. Spectators must stay behind this rope at all times. The official Press Officers are entitled to take photographs and/or video footage for the amount of time specified in the Use of Cameras/Video Equipment section above.
Expelling Spectators
All arbiters are empowered to ask spectators or the Press to leave the playing area immediately should they be in breach of these regulations. Should a spectator refuse this request, or show dissent by word or action to the arbiter, then the spectator’s accreditation may be revoked. In the case of a member of the Press, this includes the revocation of their Press badge.
For the purposes of the rules above, all members of the Press are considered to be spectators.
