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Titled Arenas Announcement — April to June 2026

"Honestly, 3+2 arenas with berserk would mostly be dominated by players who berserk most of their games,"

I might not be understanding exactly what you mean,but if you imply that the berserkers will do the best I'm not 100% sure. I know that many of you GMs and IMs mostly are a different breed, however this is a really hard challenge for players who do not have a huge strength difference. 1:30 WITHOUT increment against 3+2,where you're never getting flagged isn't easy,unless you actually never need to think lol.

"Honestly, 3+2 arenas with berserk would mostly be dominated by players who berserk most of their games," I might not be understanding exactly what you mean,but if you imply that the berserkers will do the best I'm not 100% sure. I know that many of you GMs and IMs mostly are a different breed, however this is a really hard challenge for players who do not have a huge strength difference. 1:30 WITHOUT increment against 3+2,where you're never getting flagged isn't easy,unless you actually never need to think lol.

@RealDavidNavara said ^

It would be great to have also 3+2 Titled Arenas some time. I think that this would attract many strong players who are not so fast with the mouse.

Honestly, 3+2 arenas with berserk would mostly be dominated by players who berserk most of their games, so it would be a mixture of bullet and blitz anyway.
I am playing more often on Lichess than on chess.com. I like the user interface here, it is very intuitive. Among other things, it is much easier to push Ctrl than Alt when promoting for a knight in a time trouble with an automatic queen promotion. That said, some things in Titled Arenas are uncomfortable for me: they take place late in the evening, on days when I usually play over the board, and berserking is not my cup of tea. Given that, Titled Tuesdays look more attractive for me. Of course it is very individual, many people dislike chess.com's software Proctor, but even the Lichess' Blitz Titled Arenas are rather a weird mixture of blitz and bullet. Arenas are very attractive for spectators and for fast players, but when one is slow but strong, it is hard to finish well in an arena. (All the more nowadays, when I am experiencing lapses of form.)

It would be nice to watch a titled swiss tournament here at a random time every month or two.

@RealDavidNavara said [^](/forum/redirect/post/TtFyFAsG) > > It would be great to have also 3+2 Titled Arenas some time. I think that this would attract many strong players who are not so fast with the mouse. > > Honestly, 3+2 arenas with berserk would mostly be dominated by players who berserk most of their games, so it would be a mixture of bullet and blitz anyway. > I am playing more often on Lichess than on chess.com. I like the user interface here, it is very intuitive. Among other things, it is much easier to push Ctrl than Alt when promoting for a knight in a time trouble with an automatic queen promotion. That said, some things in Titled Arenas are uncomfortable for me: they take place late in the evening, on days when I usually play over the board, and berserking is not my cup of tea. Given that, Titled Tuesdays look more attractive for me. Of course it is very individual, many people dislike chess.com's software Proctor, but even the Lichess' Blitz Titled Arenas are rather a weird mixture of blitz and bullet. Arenas are very attractive for spectators and for fast players, but when one is slow but strong, it is hard to finish well in an arena. (All the more nowadays, when I am experiencing lapses of form.) It would be nice to watch a titled swiss tournament here at a random time every month or two.

@traveller2 said ^

"Honestly, 3+2 arenas with berserk would mostly be dominated by players who berserk most of their games,"

I might not be understanding exactly what you mean,but if you imply that the berserkers will do the best I'm not 100% sure. I know that many of you GMs and IMs mostly are a different breed, however this is a really hard challenge for players who do not have a huge strength difference. 1:30 WITHOUT increment against 3+2,where you're never getting flagged isn't easy,unless you actually never need to think lol.

Players who often berserk usually finish at the top of such events, there is enough evidence in Lichess Bundesliga or Titled Chess960 arenas.
The points is that at the beginning there are many players who berserk and win quickly, and get 3 points. They get paired against another player with 3 points, one side wins quickly and gets to 6 points. Some such players will be paired against each other, someone wins and gets to 11 point while players who do not berserk and win two longer games will be on 4 points. Thus a majority of the players at the top will berserk frequently, also in mutual games. It is more complicated as there are also extra points for consecutive wins and in further course of the event non-berserking players improve their standings (also by beating berserking opponents), but when both sides regularly berserk, it is very advantageous for them in the long run. When you do not berserk, your opponents are also less likely to berserk, and the games will last much longer, up to 10 minutes compared to 3.
In one of my best results on Lichess I still did not finish 1st in the Lichess 2nd Bundesliga arena, as another player was berserking regularly, scoring a bit less but playing considerably more games. (I think that I played that event from my alternate account, so you will probably not find it in my tournament history.)
Of course it pays off to berserk cleverly, to berserk back, but not when your strong opponent keep the whole time limit and you are on a winning streak.

@traveller2 said [^](/forum/redirect/post/n7AukFJD) > "Honestly, 3+2 arenas with berserk would mostly be dominated by players who berserk most of their games," > > I might not be understanding exactly what you mean,but if you imply that the berserkers will do the best I'm not 100% sure. I know that many of you GMs and IMs mostly are a different breed, however this is a really hard challenge for players who do not have a huge strength difference. 1:30 WITHOUT increment against 3+2,where you're never getting flagged isn't easy,unless you actually never need to think lol. Players who often berserk usually finish at the top of such events, there is enough evidence in Lichess Bundesliga or Titled Chess960 arenas. The points is that at the beginning there are many players who berserk and win quickly, and get 3 points. They get paired against another player with 3 points, one side wins quickly and gets to 6 points. Some such players will be paired against each other, someone wins and gets to 11 point while players who do not berserk and win two longer games will be on 4 points. Thus a majority of the players at the top will berserk frequently, also in mutual games. It is more complicated as there are also extra points for consecutive wins and in further course of the event non-berserking players improve their standings (also by beating berserking opponents), but when both sides regularly berserk, it is very advantageous for them in the long run. When you do not berserk, your opponents are also less likely to berserk, and the games will last much longer, up to 10 minutes compared to 3. In one of my best results on Lichess I still did not finish 1st in the Lichess 2nd Bundesliga arena, as another player was berserking regularly, scoring a bit less but playing considerably more games. (I think that I played that event from my alternate account, so you will probably not find it in my tournament history.) Of course it pays off to berserk cleverly, to berserk back, but not when your strong opponent keep the whole time limit and you are on a winning streak.

Is Magnus going to play there now?

Is Magnus going to play there now?

I'd honestly be a big supporter of 'No-zerk' Chess960 TA with 3+2, because indeed I also find that in practice, Arena turns into a weird mix of bullet and blitz as @RealDavidNavara said, often some players always zerking each other like a silent mutual agreement, and while others not etc. It creates a weird imbalance imo, plus it turns into some bullet arena majority of the time. I think a 960 TA with 3+2 with no zerk once in a while would be great to see as this provides relatively more room for higher quality games. Considering the majority of high rated players in 960 play mainly 30 seconds or bullet on Lichess, this could make up for the lack of higher quality games with 3+2 TC at the high level, in the sense of simple more 3+2 games.

I'd like to hear what community thinks about this suggestion with having a 960 TA with 3+2 and NO ZERK setting?

I'd honestly be a big supporter of 'No-zerk' Chess960 TA with 3+2, because indeed I also find that in practice, Arena turns into a weird mix of bullet and blitz as @RealDavidNavara said, often some players always zerking each other like a silent mutual agreement, and while others not etc. It creates a weird imbalance imo, plus it turns into some bullet arena majority of the time. I think a 960 TA with 3+2 with no zerk once in a while would be great to see as this provides relatively more room for higher quality games. Considering the majority of high rated players in 960 play mainly 30 seconds or bullet on Lichess, this could make up for the lack of higher quality games with 3+2 TC at the high level, in the sense of simple more 3+2 games. I'd like to hear what community thinks about this suggestion with having a 960 TA with 3+2 and NO ZERK setting?

@visualdennis said ^

I'd honestly be a big supporter of 'No-zerk' Chess960 TA with 3+2, because indeed I also find that in practice, Arena turns into a weird mix of bullet and blitz as @RealDavidNavara said, often some players always zerking each other like a silent mutual agreement, and while others not etc. It creates a weird imbalance imo, plus it turns into some bullet arena majority of the time. I think a 960 TA with 3+2 with no zerk once in a while would be great to see as this provides relatively more room for higher quality games. Considering the majority of high rated players in 960 play mainly 30 seconds or bullet on Lichess, this could make up for the lack of higher quality games with 3+2 TC at the high level, in the sense of simple more 3+2 games.

I'd like to hear what community thinks about this suggestion with having a 960 TA with 3+2 and NO ZERK setting?

I would personally really like that.

@visualdennis said [^](/forum/redirect/post/xx1yswCA) > I'd honestly be a big supporter of 'No-zerk' Chess960 TA with 3+2, because indeed I also find that in practice, Arena turns into a weird mix of bullet and blitz as @RealDavidNavara said, often some players always zerking each other like a silent mutual agreement, and while others not etc. It creates a weird imbalance imo, plus it turns into some bullet arena majority of the time. I think a 960 TA with 3+2 with no zerk once in a while would be great to see as this provides relatively more room for higher quality games. Considering the majority of high rated players in 960 play mainly 30 seconds or bullet on Lichess, this could make up for the lack of higher quality games with 3+2 TC at the high level, in the sense of simple more 3+2 games. > > I'd like to hear what community thinks about this suggestion with having a 960 TA with 3+2 and NO ZERK setting? I would personally really like that.

Well... tomorrow is the blitz titled arena, and also the marathon...

Well... tomorrow is the blitz titled arena, and also the marathon...

@RealDavidNavara said ^

All of them are at 12:30 am IST.

So, for indian players like me it is practically unplayable. Maybe you can stay awake till that time for once, but noone would be willing to do it for long. I feel that if Lichess could try different times, it would feel more inclusive (not only for indians but for everyone, because one time can't be used for everybody).

I hope this is atleast taken into consideration and acknowledged.

I agree with you.
Personally I am playing over the board at most weekends, and while the Lichess Arenas do not overlap with my games, I do not want to come to my Sunday morning game tired and poorly prepared. Also I usually play worse late in the evening. I understand that there are many arguments for weekends, but when all the arenas take place on the same day and at the same time, it means that it always suits some players, and never others.
I would also like to ask what has happened with the Titled Chess960 Arenas. There used to be about 3 of them per year, but last one took place last year.

Thank you for your message! It was an oversight on our part to not include chess960 this time around. The June Blitz Titled Arena has been changed to a 960 Blitz Titled Arena!

@RealDavidNavara said [^](/forum/redirect/post/nOsOUOks) > > All of them are at 12:30 am IST. > > > > So, for indian players like me it is practically unplayable. Maybe you can stay awake till that time for once, but noone would be willing to do it for long. I feel that if Lichess could try different times, it would feel more inclusive (not only for indians but for everyone, because one time can't be used for everybody). > > > > I hope this is atleast taken into consideration and acknowledged. > > I agree with you. > Personally I am playing over the board at most weekends, and while the Lichess Arenas do not overlap with my games, I do not want to come to my Sunday morning game tired and poorly prepared. Also I usually play worse late in the evening. I understand that there are many arguments for weekends, but when all the arenas take place on the same day and at the same time, it means that it always suits some players, and never others. > I would also like to ask what has happened with the Titled Chess960 Arenas. There used to be about 3 of them per year, but last one took place last year. Thank you for your message! It was an oversight on our part to not include chess960 this time around. The June Blitz Titled Arena has been changed to a 960 Blitz Titled Arena!

@visualdennis said ^

I'd honestly be a big supporter of 'No-zerk' Chess960 TA with 3+2, because indeed I also find that in practice, Arena turns into a weird mix of bullet and blitz as @RealDavidNavara said, often some players always zerking each other like a silent mutual agreement, and while others not etc. It creates a weird imbalance imo, plus it turns into some bullet arena majority of the time. I think a 960 TA with 3+2 with no zerk once in a while would be great to see as this provides relatively more room for higher quality games. Considering the majority of high rated players in 960 play mainly 30 seconds or bullet on Lichess, this could make up for the lack of higher quality games with 3+2 TC at the high level, in the sense of simple more 3+2 games.

I'd like to hear what community thinks about this suggestion with having a 960 TA with 3+2 and NO ZERK setting?

Thank you for your suggestion. We will look into it.

@visualdennis said [^](/forum/redirect/post/xx1yswCA) > I'd honestly be a big supporter of 'No-zerk' Chess960 TA with 3+2, because indeed I also find that in practice, Arena turns into a weird mix of bullet and blitz as @RealDavidNavara said, often some players always zerking each other like a silent mutual agreement, and while others not etc. It creates a weird imbalance imo, plus it turns into some bullet arena majority of the time. I think a 960 TA with 3+2 with no zerk once in a while would be great to see as this provides relatively more room for higher quality games. Considering the majority of high rated players in 960 play mainly 30 seconds or bullet on Lichess, this could make up for the lack of higher quality games with 3+2 TC at the high level, in the sense of simple more 3+2 games. > > I'd like to hear what community thinks about this suggestion with having a 960 TA with 3+2 and NO ZERK setting? Thank you for your suggestion. We will look into it.