Norwegian Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen dominated the chess circuit in 2025, concluding the year as the top prize-money earner with nearly $1.5 million from tournament performances alone. This figure, compiled by Chess.com and corroborated by various news outlets including The Indian Express, highlights his continued prowess despite having relinquished the World Championship title years prior. Carlsen's significant winnings were amassed from events such as the Esports World Cup, World Rapid and Blitz Championship, and the Freestyle Grand Slam Tour. He was notably the only player to achieve seven figures in prize earnings during 2025. Following Carlsen, American Grandmasters Fabiano Caruana and Levon Aronian secured the second and third spots, earning approximately $890,000 and over $750,000 respectively. The year 2025 proved to be particularly lucrative for professional chess players, with a record 26 individuals crossing the $100,000 mark in prize money, a substantial increase from the previous year. This surge is attributed to the return of major events like the FIDE World Cup and Grand Swiss, and the inclusion of chess in the Esports World Cup. For the Indian audience, the performance of Indian Grandmasters was a highlight. Arjun Erigaisi emerged as India's highest earner, placing 8th globally with $431,214 in prize money. World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju and Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu were also notable Indian earners. Additionally, Indian prodigy Divya Deshmukh had a breakthrough year, earning her Grandmaster title, winning the FIDE Women's World Cup, and being recognized as Chess.com's Woman Player of the Year for 2025. It is important to note that these prize money figures do not include other significant income streams such as appearance fees, sponsorships, coaching, or streaming revenue.