It appears to be a matter of time before the nascent U.S. sports betting industry takes its first bet on one of the oldest and most storied games in the world.
Already a staple at some European sportsbooks, the game of chess has yet to find a home in the American legal sports wagering industry. That could soon change, as the game’s top grandmasters are currently in the midst of trying to become the challenger against Norwegian Magnus Carlsen in the 2020 FIDE World Chess Championship. The Candidates Tournament, which decides who the challenger will be, takes place this upcoming spring. Carlsen is about a 2/1 favorite against the field right now.