Select Year
2026
Magnus Carlsen
VOD
Results
Standings
| rank | Club | Prize Pool | CC Points |
|---|---|---|---|
1st |  Magnus Carlsen | $250,000 | +1,000 |
2nd |  Denis Lazavik | $190,000 | +750 |
3rd |  Hikaru Nakamura | $145,000 | +500 |
4th | Alireza Firouzja | $100,000 | +300 |
5th |  Nihal Sarin  Hans Niemann  Nodirbek Abdusattorov  Arjun Erigaisi | $72,500 | +200 |
9th |  Jan-Krzysztof Duda  Ian Nepomniachtchi  Sina Movahed Pranesh Munirethinam | $52,500 | - |
13th |  Aleksej Sarana  Andrey Esipenko  Benjamin Bok  Wei Yi | $40,000 | - |
17th |  Vladislav Artemiev | $32,000 | - |
18th |  Parham Maghsoodloo | $27,000 | - |
19th | Alexander Grischuk Oleksandr Bortnyk | $25,000 | - |
21st | Aravindh Chithambaram  Liem Le | $23,000 | - |
Participating Players
This year, the EWC Chess tournament is growing!
The first phase, new to EWC, is the Play-in phase, which will host 8 players qualified via the Last Chance Qualifier and Dreamhack Atlanta. These players will face off in a Double elimination bracket, playing 2 games per match.
The best players from Play-in will qualify to Group Stage, and will be joined by the best of the best from Qualifier tournaments. In group stage, 16 players will be divided into 2 groups of 8, which will play their matches in double elimination brackets again, playing 2 games per match. Top 4 from both groups qualify to the Playoffs.
Playoffs are a no-second-chances, single elimination bracket, with 4 games per match in Round of 8, and 6 games per match in Semi-Finals. The winner of this years tournament will be decided after a grueling Grand Finals match compromised of 3 sets of Games.
Road to EWC 2026 - Qualifiers
100%
22/22 Slots Claimed
Oct 13th - Feb 8th
Global
2 Players Qualify
Speed Chess Championship
completed
Mar 14th - Apr 26th
Global
1 Players Qualify
Chess.com Open
completed
May 15th - May 17th
Atlanta, USA
4 Players Qualify
Chess at ROAD TO EWC 26: DreamHack Atlanta
completed
May 15th - May 17th
Atlanta, USA
4 Players Qualify
Chess: Atlanta Qualifiers
completed
Sep 2nd - May 23rd
Global
9 Players Qualify
CCT Leaderboard
completed
May 18th - Jul 5th
Global
1 Player Qualifies
India Rising
completed
Oct 13th - Feb 8th
Global
2 Players Qualify
Speed Chess Championship
completed
Mar 14th - Apr 26th
Global
1 Players Qualify
Chess.com Open
completed
May 15th - May 17th
Atlanta, USA
4 Players Qualify
Chess at ROAD TO EWC 26: DreamHack Atlanta
completed
May 15th - May 17th
Atlanta, USA
4 Players Qualify
Chess: Atlanta Qualifiers
completed
Last Chance Qualifier Format
Phase 1 - Group Stage
256 players
8 Groups of 32 players - Swiss
1 game per match
Top 2 of each group to Playoffs
Phase 2 - Playoffs
16 Players, Double Elimination Bracket
2 games per match in all matches but qualification ones
4 games per match in qualification matches
Top 5 Players qualify for Chess at Esports World Cup 2026
Day 1- August 4th 2026
| Start Time CEST | Games per Match | Round | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 | 1 | A+B | Swiss R1 |
| 12:25 | 1 | A+B | Swiss R2 |
| 12:50 | 1 | A+B | Swiss R3 |
| 13:15 | 1 | A+B | Swiss R4 |
| 13:40 | 1 | A+B | Swiss R5 |
| 14:05 | 1 | A+B | Swiss R6 |
| 14:30 | 1 | A+B | Swiss R7 |
| 15:25 | 1 | C+D | Swiss R1 |
| 15:50 | 1 | C+D | Swiss R2 |
| 16:15 | 1 | C+D | Swiss R3 |
Rulebook
About
Chess grand masters earn their title for life after years of dedication to the game, outplaying opponents by thinking multiple steps ahead and adapting strategies as matches unfold. What began as a traditional contest of intellect has evolved into a certified esport, with the competitive scene gaining global momentum in 2020 and bringing high stakes, emotion, and drama to audiences around the world.
Each match begins on equal footing, with both players controlling identical pieces, each defined by its own movement and unified by a single objective: protect the King. Turn by turn, players maneuver to corner their opponent’s King while anticipating every possible counter, creating a tense contest of precision and foresight. Chess at EWC 25 led to the pairing of the world’s best grandmasters with premier esports organizations, setting the stage for unmatched intensity and rivalry.
News
2026
Counter-Strike 2 Returns to the Esports World Cup in 2027 and 2028!
Counter-Strike 2 is returning to the Esports World Cup in both 2027 and 2028, bringing two more years of world-class competition.
2026
2026 Esports World Cup in Numbers
Seven weeks. 24 games. More than 2,000 players. And a whole lot of unforgettable moments. From the biggest stages in esports to the streets of Paris, EWC26 brought the world together for a summer of competition, entertainment and community.
2026
Esports World Cup Trophy Award Ceremony crowns AG.AL
Thousands of competitors have traveled to the Esports World Cup 2026 in search of glory and millions in prize money, but in the end there could only be one winner of the Club Championship. The trophy award ceremony celebrated AG.AL as the Club Championship winner while honoring the achievements of each and every player involved.
2026
Notable Stories of EWC 26 Week 7
Week 7 of the Esports World Cup 2026 is officially in the books and with it, the EWC comes to a close. The final week saw champions crowned in Fortnite, Trackmania, CS2 and Crossfire, bringing one last wave of high-stakes action, dramatic finishes and standout performances. After seven weeks of competition, the Club Championships winner has been crowned, but let's not forget about all the action from this final week.