All posts tagged: Esports World Cup

Following Esports World Cup debut in 2025, Chess to enter Esports Nations Cup 2026 in Riyadh

Following Esports World Cup debut in 2025, Chess to enter Esports Nations Cup 2026 in Riyadh

Published by Webster

3 min readApr 9, 2026 05:58 PM IST After making its entry at the Esports World Cup (EWC) in 2025, chess is all set to make its way to the Esports Nations Cup 2026. The Esports Foundation on Thursday confirmed the complete 16-game lineup for the ENC, the global nation-based esports competition set to debut in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 2 to 29, 2026. More than 100,000 players are expected to compete in hundreds of qualification events across 100 markets throughout 2026 for the opportunity to represent their nation and territory on the global stage. Among the 16 titles, chess is now featured alongside games like Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, and Valorant. What is the Esports Nations Cup (ENC)? The ENC is a nation-based esports competition. Unlike regular tournaments where private teams compete, the ENC allows players to represent their own country or territory. The event will take place in Riyadh from November 2 to 29, 2026. Qualification events will be held across markets, giving numerous players a chance to earn a spot on …

IOC cuts ties with Saudi Arabia over Olympic Esports Games partnership: Reasons behind fallout

IOC cuts ties with Saudi Arabia over Olympic Esports Games partnership: Reasons behind fallout

Published by Webster

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC) have parted ways as they officially terminated their partnership for the Olympic Esports Games, bringing an end to their 12-year collaboration, the IOC announced on Thursday. And as a result of this latest development, the IOC and the Esports World Cup Foundation have also mutually agreed to end their partnership on the inaugural edition of the event, which was initially scheduled for 2027. “The initiative of the Olympic Esports Games has created a great deal of excitement amongst all stakeholders of the Olympic Movement and in the esports community, who are all looking forward to the first edition. In the last year, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC) have discussed the concept of the Olympic Esports Games at length in line with the partnership they announced in 2024,” reads the IOC statement. Story continues below this ad “Recently, the two parties and the Esports World Cup Foundation sat down again and reviewed this initiative. They …

Why Magnus Carlsen felt Champions Chess Tour wasn’t ideal prep for Norway Chess

Why Magnus Carlsen felt Champions Chess Tour wasn’t ideal prep for Norway Chess

Published by Webster

Magnus Carlsen had no real difficulties in winning the second leg of the Champions Chess Tour — 2025 Chess.com Classic — after beating France’s Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in the Grand Finals on Friday to complete his double in CCT. With this win, Carlsen pocketed $150,000 and reaffirmed his status as one of the greatest players to have ever played this sport. MVL, meanwhile, confirmed his spot in the upcoming Esports World Cup by reaching the Grand Finals all the way through the losers’ second round bracket. He beat Arjun Erigaisi, Levon Aronian, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Hikaru Nakamura to qualify for the title clash before losing against Carlsen. The Norwegian maestro had to play the minimum amount of games to win the tournament, with none of the players able to enforce tiebreaks in any of the games, as Carlsen suggested it was not a very good practice for the upcoming “Norway Chess”. His home tournament will feature some of the very strong players in classical chess, as Carlsen hoped for a good practice ground in …

Nihal Sarin, Aravindh Chithambaram to compete for India’s S8UL

Nihal Sarin, Aravindh Chithambaram to compete for India’s S8UL

Published by Webster

Nihal Sarin and Aravindh Chithambaram will compete for India’s S8UL in chess at the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025, the franchise announced late on Sunday night. Online chess will be introduced for the first time at the upcoming Esports World Cup this year when it will be held at Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh from July 7 to August 24. Aravindh Chithambaram is currently ranked 4th in India and 11th in the world, with a FIDE rating of 2749. Nihal Sarin is currently ranked 8th in India and 40th in the world, with a FIDE rating of 2687. Before Nihal and Aravindh, Arjun Erigaisi was named on the roster of Gen.G, thus becoming the first Indian to be named in an esports team’s roster. There are plenty of big names who have already signed up for esports outfits. Team Liquid has snapped up stars like former world champion Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana while Team Falcons will have five-time Speed Chess champion Hikaru Nakamura and rising star Alireza Firouzja in its squad. Ian Nepomniachtchi will play for …

Nihal Sarin, Aravindh Chitambaram sign with Esports team S8UL

Nihal Sarin, Aravindh Chitambaram sign with Esports team S8UL

Published by Webster

Indian chess Grandmasters Nihal Sarin and Aravindh Chitambaram have signed a deal with S8UL for the 2025 Esports World Cup. The two rising stars of Indian chess will represent the organisation as chess makes its debut at the Esports World Cup, scheduled to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia later this year. “We’re proud to unveil the next chapter in S8UL’s journey – welcoming NIHAL SARIN & ARAVINDH CHITHAMBARAM , the tactical mastermind behind the board, to represent us at the Esports World Cup 2025,” S8UL posted on social media. This development comes two months after Arjun Erigaisi, the second Indian to break the 2800 rating barrier, signed with American team Gen.G Esports. A host of top international grandmasters including the likes of Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Maxime Vachier Lagrave, Alireza Firouzja, Fabiano Caruana, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Ding Liren, Nodirbek Abdusattorov and others have signed with various different teams for the competition. Arjun, Nihal, and Aravindh are the only Indians to have signed a contract until now. Only 12 players will compete at 2025 Esports World …

Taking chess to debut at Esports World Cup 2025 in Saudi Arabia

Taking chess to debut at Esports World Cup 2025 in Saudi Arabia

Published by Webster

Magnus Carlsen will headline the Esports World Cup next year in Saudi Arabia as chess makes it debut at the event. The Esports World Cup will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from July 31 to August 3, 2025. Some of the world’s top chess players will be competing for a massive $1.5 million prize pool. The Esports World Cup (EWC) is the world’s largest gaming and esports festival. It is learnt that Carlsen will join the Esports World Cup as an ambassador. “I’m thrilled to see chess join some of the biggest games in the world at the Esports World Cup. This partnership is an incredible opportunity to grow the game, by introducing chess to new audiences and inspiring the next generation of players. Being part of the esports family is an amazing opportunity for chess to broaden its reach to a massive group of esports fans,” Carlsen was quoted as saying by Chess.com. Chess’ entry into the Esports World Cup comes by way of a partnership between Chess.com and Carlsen on one hand …