Select Year
2025
Chess at EWC 25 Champion!
Magnus Carlsen wins $250,000
VODs
Results
Standings
| rank | club | Prize Pool | CC Points | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Participating Players
Esports organizations rushed to sign Grand Masters worldwide to bring them to the largest stage chess has ever seen.
Road to EWC
All qualifiers are either completed or have not been announced yet.
Chess LCQ Important Information!
Top 4 players qualify for EWC. While there's no prize money for reaching top 4, each player is guaranteed $50,000 from the EWC prize pool.
Priority Registration will be offered to:
- 50 Top Players
- 25 Top Women
- Titled Players
After completing the LCQ signup process, players will receive a tentative confirmation email if they meet the registration requirements and slots are available. Once the tentative confirmation is sent, players will have one week to purchase and submit their own travel accommodations to confirm their attendance and finalize their registration.
About
The Characters: Grand Masters earn the title for life after years of dedication to the game of chess. To earn this title, the pros must outplay opponents, thinking multiple steps ahead and switching strategies on the spot as the game unfolds. What started as a traditional game of wits has become a certified esport as the scene progressed in 2020, bringing the sweat, tears, and drama to streams all over the world.
The Plot: Each opponent starts with the same pieces on their side of the chessboard, all with their own set of moves and one goal—protect the King.
Players take turns moving their pieces on the board to corner the opponent’s King without any other pieces getting in the way. It’s a game of cat and mouse that takes immense brainpower, focus, and strategy, which is why Grand Masters are so highly regarded and feared.
Why: Chess at EWC 2025 is the biggest chess tournament yet, and the massive prize pool has driven the best-of-the-best to sign with esports organizations and prepare for a huge mental game like no other. Watch the Grand Masters at work, and be prepared for intensity and rivalry like no other esport.
News
2026
Road to EWC: March 2026
March pushed the Road to EWC forward, delivering decisive results across multiple esports titles and confirming key qualifiers for the season ahead. Nongshim RedForce dominated VCT Masters Santiago in VALORANT, T1’s Tseng “ZJZ” Chia-chen and Tsunehiro “Gachikun” Kanamori claimed top honors in FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves and Street Fighter 6 at DreamHack Birmingham, and Trackmania and Call of Duty: Warzone qualifiers gave clubs and players a place to Riyadh.
2026
The Esports Foundation Club Partner Program 2026 is Here
40 of the world’s leading esports clubs are joining the program as partners for the 2026 season. This initiative marks a significant milestone in the esports landscape as clubs continue their qualification journey.
PR
40 Elite Esports Clubs Selected to Esports Foundation’s $20M Club Partner Program, Reaching Over 300 Million Fans Worldwide
The Industry-leading initiative, now in its third year, has invested over $100m into Clubs to date, providing up to $1 million per Club to support growth and expand global audiences
2026
ROAD to EWC: DreamHack Birmingham recap
T1's Tseng "ZJZ" Chia-chen conquered the FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves field and Tsunehiro "gachikun" Kanamori emerged victorious within the Street Fighter 6 competition at DreamHack Birmingham alongside intense Road to EWC qualifiers. Team Vitality's Thomas "Pac" Cole, along with eight other competitors, qualified for Trackmania at EWC 26 while Team Falcons and three other teams qualified for COD: Warzone at EWC 26.
