In a battle worthy of chess’s “El Clasico,” Magnus Carlsen edged out Hikaru Nakamura in a heart-pounding armageddon decider to reach the eSports World Cup 2025 final.
The match, played on July 31, lived up to the hype.
Carlsen, representing Team Liquid, faced Nakamura, the crowd favorite from home team Falcon. The arena roared for the Japanese-American star, so loudly that both players wore earplugs and noise-canceling headphones to block distractions.
It didn’t help much.
Trading Blows
The semi-final was a six-game rollercoaster. Carlsen took the lead. Nakamura equalized. Carlsen struck again. Nakamura answered. After 3-3, the match headed to armageddon – the ultimate sudden-death format.
Carlsen, with the white pieces, had 10 minutes. Nakamura had 6 minutes and 12 seconds, no increment. If the game ended in a draw, Nakamura would win by default.
But Carlsen didn’t let it get there.
He launched a surprise queen attack that cornered Nakamura’s pieces. A brilliant double-threat left Nakamura with no way out. Carlsen converted the advantage with clinical precision.
Final score: 4-3.
Loud Crowd, Silent Arrow
During the match, Carlsen stunned the crowd by signaling for silence, putting a finger to his lips after a crucial win. Some fans booed him right away for that gesture, in a fun way.
Still, Nakamura fought back. In the sixth game, with white, he had to win to force a tie-break. Carlsen blundered, dropping a knight, and the arena erupted. Nakamura found the punishing move in seconds.
But the final game belonged to Carlsen.
After the victory, Carlsen joked, “I brought my bow and arrow to shoot down a falcon. Tomorrow, I’ll aim for another one.”
Nakamura fired back: “I hope Firouzja kicks Carlsen’s a*s.”
What’s Next
Carlsen will face Alireza Firouzja in the final on Friday, August 1 at 7:05 p.m. local time. Firouzja crushed Arjun Erigaisi 4-1 in the other semi-final.
The final will be played over up to three stages. If needed, it ends with another armageddon showdown.
Both Carlsen and Firouzja are unbeaten so far. Only one will leave Riyadh with the crown.
You can watch all of the semifinal games here
Magnus Carlsen — Ice-Cold and Unstoppable
The Norwegian superstar didn’t just survive the playoffs. He dominated.
- Quarterfinal:
Carlsen made quick work of Nihal Sarin, winning 2.5–0.5. No mercy. No mistakes. The Indian youngster barely had room to breathe. - Semifinal:
Then came Hikaru Nakamura. The crowd was with the Falcon. But Carlsen was in a different zone.
Their semi was a classic. After six battles and one armageddon war, Carlsen came out on top: 4–3.
He silenced the crowd, literally, with a finger-to-lips gesture after striking with the black pieces.
He now enters the final undefeated.
Alireza Firouzja — Fast, Fierce, and Fearless
The French prodigy is flying through the bracket. And he’s barely been tested.
- Quarterfinal:
Firouzja crushed Nodirbek Abdusattorov 3–1. Uzbekistan’s rising star couldn’t match the tempo. - Semifinal:
Then came Arjun Erigaisi, India’s top gun. It didn’t matter. Firouzja steamrolled him 4–1.
No need for tie-breaks. No need for drama. Just clean, confident chess.
The Grand Final: Liquid vs Falcons
Carlsen plays for Team Liquid. Firouzja wears the colors of Team Falcons — Saudi Arabia’s own.
It’s more than a battle of kings. It’s a showdown between two elite esports clubs.
A win earns $250,000 and 1,000 club points. More than pride is on the line.
The final takes place Friday, August 1 at 7:05 p.m. (local time – GMT+3).
Format: Up to three rounds.
- First two: 4-game sets.
- If tied: A final mini-set of 2 games.
- Still tied? Armageddon. No second chances.
Chess at the eSports World Cup — New Era, Old Game
Chess made its debut at the Esports World Cup 2025, hosted in Riyadh.
It replaced the Champions Chess Tour Finals, becoming the new season-ending mega-event.
Powered by Chess.com, the event brings together 16 of the world’s best, from legends like Carlsen and Nakamura to rising stars like Abdusattorov and Sarin.
Format? Brutal and fast-paced.
- Stage 1: 4-player groups. GSL-style.
- Stage 2: Single-elimination bracket.
- Time control: 10 minutes, no increment.
- Tiebreaks: Armageddon. One slip and you’re out.
The total prize pool? $1.5 million.
- 🥇 1st: $250K
- 🥈 2nd: $180K
- 🥉 3rd: $125K
- 4th: Also $125K
- 5th–8th: $90K each
Clubs also rack up points. The top-scoring team across all eSports games wins big in the overall standings.
The final will be live here
I’m a passionate board game enthusiast and a skilled player in chess, xiangqi and Go. Words for Attacking Chess since 2023. Ping me at Lichess for a game or chat.
