Paris: Indian Grandmasters advance to Esports World Cup chess quarter-finals
Esports World Cup features chess tournament
The Esports World Cup 2026 in Paris Expo Porte de Versailles is hosting a competitive gaming event that includes chess. Mike McCabe, COO and Deputy CEO of the Esports Foundation, noted that chess was added to the Esports World Cup in 2025 and is part of the tournament again this year. The 2026 tournament features a prize pool of USD 1.5 million.
Chess stands out among the other titles in Paris, as its rules did not originate from a game publisher, and its stars did not develop within the esports industry. McCabe highlighted that for the Esports Foundation, what qualifies as an esport is determined by the community and ecosystem surrounding it. If a game played digitally has a strong competitive ecosystem, organised events, rankings, and spectator interest, it can be considered part of the world of esports.
McCabe views chess as a unique inclusion due to its heritage, which extends beyond digital interactive entertainment. He appreciates that it bridges generations, allowing parents who taught their children to play chess to enjoy the competitive event together. This intergenerational appeal is a key reason he believes chess works within the Esports World Cup format.
The Esports World Cup aims to expand its audience beyond those familiar with traditional esports games. Chess provides a different setting to showcase its top players. McCabe also mentioned that the definition of games within the Esports World Cup is expected to evolve over time, focusing on the ecosystem, audience, viewership, and spectacle.
Indian Grandmasters secure quarter-final berths
Indian Grandmasters Nihal Sarin and Arjun Erigaisi have advanced to the quarter-finals of the Esports World Cup chess tournament in Paris. Both players secured their spots through the lower bracket on the final day of the group stage. The tournament’s knockout stage is set to begin on Friday.
Nihal Sarin, representing S8UL Esports, navigated his lower-bracket matches by defeating Wei Yi and Jan-Krzysztof Duda. His match against Wei Yi went to an Armageddon decider, which Nihal won. He then secured his place in the quarter-finals by taking the second game against Jan-Krzysztof Duda after an initial draw.
Arjun Erigaisi of Gen.G Esports also qualified for the quarter-finals. He achieved a 2-0 victory against Pranesh M in an all-Indian lower-bracket decider, eliminating Pranesh from the competition. Arjun‘s win secured the second playoff spot from Group A alongside Nihal.
Other players who have secured playoff spots include Magnus Carlsen, Alireza Firouzja, Hikaru Nakamura, and Nodirbek Abdusattorov. The knockout stage will follow a single-elimination format. Quarter-final matches will consist of four games, while semi-finals will expand to six games. The grand final will be a best-of-three sets match, with the first two sets comprising four games each and a potential third set of two games. The tournament uses a 10-minute, no-increment time control, with Armageddon serving as the tiebreak in two-game matches.
Ambition for esports recognition
McCabe has expressed an ambition for esports players to achieve a level of recognition comparable to IPL cricketers in India. He hopes that in the future, esports players will be recognised for their abilities and have a significant fanbase, similar to how IPL cricketers are mobbed. This goal aligns with the Esports World Cup‘s expansion beyond individual games to include clubs, teams, and a broader competition between organisations.
The relocation of the Esports World Cup from Riyadh to Paris in a short timeframe demonstrated the event’s capability to operate internationally. McCabe noted that esports events have historically been mobile, taking place in various parts of the world, but the speed of this particular move was exceptional. This rapid relocation suggests the property can function effectively beyond its home market.
The Esports World Cup 2026 features 24 games and a total prize pool of USD 75 million across the competition. The playoffs for the chess tournament are scheduled to run through Saturday.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
