For the first time ever, chess is part of the Esports World Cup. This is a major step for the game. It shows how chess has changed with the times. From its roots in India centuries ago to the online matches of today, chess has now entered the world of esports.
The Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025 is taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The chess event runs from July 29 to August 1. The prize pool is $1.5 million USD, and some of the best players in the world are here to compete.
From Boards to Screens: Chess Enters a New Era
Chess is one of the oldest games in the world. It started in India as “chaturanga” over 1,000 years ago. Over time, it spread across the globe. The modern rules we use today became common in the 16th century. In 1886, the first World Chess Champion was crowned. Since then, the game has continued to grow.
In recent years, chess became very popular online. People can now play fast games with just a few clicks. Streaming and live commentary bring the action to millions of fans.
Now, in 2025, chess takes its place on the big stage of esports.
How Chess Fits into the Esports World Cup
The Esports World Cup was created as a global competition for many games. It started as Gamers8 but became EWC in 2023. Chess was officially added to the 2025 event in December 2024. It replaces the Champions Chess Tour Finals and is now the final stop of the season.
The event is organized by EWC Foundation, ESL FACEIT Group, and Chess.com. Sponsors include STC, Qiddiya, Jameel Motorsports, Pepsi, and Sony. The tournament takes place at Boulevard Riyadh City.
The time control is Rapid chess, each player has 10 minutes per game with no extra time added. If there’s a tie, the match goes to an Armageddon game, where one player gets more time but must win. You can watch games live here:
Big Names, Big Teams
The chess lineup includes many top players. The top 12 came from the Champions Chess Tour (CCT) standings, including:
- Magnus Carlsen (Norway) – Team Liquid
- Hikaru Nakamura (USA) – Team Falcons
- Fabiano Caruana (USA) – Team Liquid
- Alireza Firouzja (France) – Team Falcons
- Ian Nepomniachtchi (Russia) – Aurora Gaming
- Arjun Erigaisi (India) – Gen.G Esports
- Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzbekistan) – Natus Vincere
- Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France) – Team Vitality
- Jan-Krzysztof Duda (Poland) – Twisted Minds
- Wei Yi (China) – Weibo Gaming
- Vladislav Artemiev (Russia) – Team Spirit
- Vladimir Fedoseev (Russia) – was replaced by Andrey Esipenko (Virtus.pro)
Four more players qualified through the Last Chance Qualifier held just before the event:
- Levon Aronian (USA) – REJECT
- Anish Giri (Netherlands) – Team Secret
- Javokhir Sindarov (Uzbekistan) – Team Vitality
- Nihal Sarin (India) – S8UL Esports
More than 135 players took part in the Last Chance Qualifier. Only four made it through. One of the surprises was the elimination of top American grandmaster Hans Niemann, who lost to Sindarov and Giri.
The Format: Fast, Tough, and Unforgiving
The tournament has two stages:
Stage 1: Group Stage
- 4 groups of 4 players each
- 2 games per match
- Top players move to the playoffs
- If tied, players go to an Armageddon game
Stage 2: Playoffs
- Single elimination bracket
- Quarterfinals: 4 games per match
- Semifinals: 6 games per match
- Grand Final: Best of 3 sets (first two sets = 4 games, final set = 2 games)
There is no time increment in any game. This means time pressure is a big part of the game. Players must move fast, or risk losing even in good positions.
Prize Money and Club Points
Players are fighting for more than money. Their performance also earns points for their esports clubs, which are competing in the Club Championship.
| Place | Prize | Club Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | $250,000 | 1,000 |
| 2nd | $180,000 | 750 |
| 3rd | $125,000 | 500 |
| 4th | $125,000 | 300 |
| 5-8th | $90,000 | 200 each |
Total prize pool: $1.5 million
Total club points: 2,750
Schedule (Key Matches)
All times below are local (GMT+3). Times in Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) and GMT are also shown.
| Match | Date | Time (GMT+3) | PDT | GMT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aronian vs Esipenko | Tue, Jul 29 | 7:00 PM | 9:00 AM | 4:00 PM |
| Nepomniachtchi vs Artemiev | Tue, Jul 29 | 7:00 PM | 9:00 AM | 4:00 PM |
| Sarin vs Giri | Tue, Jul 29 | 8:20 PM | 10:20 AM | 5:20 PM |
| Erigaisi vs Vachier-Lagrave | Tue, Jul 29 | 8:20 PM | 10:20 AM | 5:20 PM |
| Sindarov vs Nakamura | Tue, Jul 29 | 9:40 PM | 11:40 AM | 6:40 PM |
| Firouzja vs Wei Yi | Tue, Jul 29 | 9:40 PM | 11:40 AM | 6:40 PM |
| Abdusattorov vs Carlsen | Tue, Jul 29 | 11:00 PM | 1:00 PM | 8:00 PM |
| Duda vs Caruana | Tue, Jul 29 | 11:00 PM | 1:00 PM | 8:00 PM |
Why This Matters
The inclusion of chess in the Esports World Cup is a big deal. It brings chess to a new audience. It gives players a new way to earn, compete, and grow. It also connects chess to other popular games in the esports world.
This week, fans will see a mix of tradition and technology. Classic strategy meets modern speed. Long-time chess fans and new viewers will all have something to enjoy.
And by the end of the week, one player will be crowned the first-ever Esports World Cup Chess Champion.
Stay tuned for results, interviews, and highlights from Riyadh.
I’m Xuan Binh, the founder of Attacking Chess, and the Deputy Head of Communications at the Vietnam Chess Federation (VCF). My chess.com and lichess rating is above 2300, in both blitz and bullet. Follow me on Twitter (X).
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