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
Rocket League at EWC26 Champions: Falcons soar above the rest
Team Falcons claimed a dominant Grand Final victory in Rocket League at EWC 26, sweeping Spacestation Gaming 4-0. The Saudi club’s star-studded lineup of twin brothers Yazid “Kiileerrz” Bakhashwin and Saleh “Rw9” Bakhashwin alongside Samy “dralii” Hajji took home the $400,000 first prize and 1,000 Club Championship points. Congratulations to Team Falcons.
2026
PMWC at EWC 26: S2G Esports Weathers the Storm
S2G Esports held on to claim victory after a marathon run of matches at the PUBG Mobile World Cup at Esports World Cup 2026. The Turkish organization reached Smash Rule match point after 16 games but could not immediately close out the tournament. Instead, S2G’s consistency and points total ultimately secured the championship. Congratulations to S2G Esports on the victory.
2026
Chess at EWC 26 Champion: Carlsen does it again
Magnus Carlsen proved his dominance over international chess once again, sweeping the Grand Final against Denis Lazavik to defend his title in Chess at EWC 26. Delivering an undefeated campaign across the entire tournament, the Norwegian grandmaster took home the $250,000 first prize while also securing 1,000 crucial Club Championship points for Team Liquid. Congratulations to Magnus Carlsen and Team Liquid on another historic EWC title.
2026
EWC 26 Fan Fest Week 5 Recap
Week 5 brought another wave of action to the Esports World Cup 2026, with Fan Fest once again serving as a meeting point for creators, developers, esports clubs and fans. From co-streams and player appearances to community events and hands-on experiences, Fan Fest continued to bring the wider gaming community into the heart of EWC.
