Chess debuts at Esports World Cup 2025

The evolution of Chess

Originating in ancient India as chaturanga, chess took its modern form around the 16th century. It wasn’t until the 19th century, however, that standardized rules, pieces, and time controls became widely adopted.

The game’s global reach expanded rapidly, culminating in the first official World Chess Championship in 1886, won by Wilhelm Steinitz. Over time, chess evolved into a global sport, with generations of players refining different styles of play.

Chess as an esport

This led to chess entering the digital age in the late 20th century. Technology became both a rival and a tool as Garry Kasparov took on computers like Deep Blue. Today, online chess is a thriving form of competition. Features like premoves, instant time controls, and live broadcasting add new layers to the traditional game.

Now, 139 years after the first World Chess Champion was crowned, the game reaches a new milestone. The first Esports World Cup chess champion title will be awarded this week – a testament to the game's digital transformation and its enduring appeal.

Grandmasters galore

Chess at EWC 25 includes many of the game’s top names. The top twelve of the 2025 CCT points standings – Alireza Firouzja, Arjun Erigaisi, Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Magnus Carlsen, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Vladislav Artemiev, Andrey Esipenko, and Wei Yi – directly qualified for the tournament. They are joined in the group stage by four players who fought through the Last Chance Qualifier: Javokhir Sindarov, Nihal Sarin, Anish Giri, and Levon Aronian. These four emerged from a field of more than 135 players who showed up in Riyadh for the Last Chance Qualifiers.

Many of the top chess players were picked up by esports clubs looking to strengthen their Club Championship bid.

Team Liquid made a major statement by signing three of the top four players in the world: Carlsen, Caruana, and Praggnanandhaa (who was knocked out during the LCQ). Local hope Team Falcons also managed to pick up an impressive lineup containing Nakamura and Firouzja. Current Club Championship frontrunner Team Vitality will be represented by Vachier-Lagrave and Sindarov.

Unique format and a huge prize pool

The tournament begins with four groups of four players competing in a GSL-style format, using a 10-minute Rapid with no increment. Each group stage match consists of two games. Tiebreakers will be decided by an Armageddon match.

The top-scoring players advance to a single-elimination bracket, where the number of games per match will increase: four games in each quarterfinal, six in each semifinal, and a best-of-three sets format in the grand final. The first two sets include four games each, with a deciding two-game set played if needed.

Which players can rise to the challenge of this format?

Some players have already struggled to adapt to the lack of increment. American chess grandmaster Hans Moke Niemann, for example, ran into trouble with the format's time restrictions despite having a better position than his opponent. He lost to Javokhir Sindarov and was eventually eliminated from the Last Chance Qualifier by Anish Giri.

In this format, the risk of running out of time increases, leading to potential blunders as players feel compelled to make quicker decisions. All eyes will be watching to see who can ultimately combine the skills of strategic thinking, time management, and mental endurance.

Players are battling for a $1.5 million prize pool and 2,750 Club Championship points, with the champion earning $250,000 and 1,000 points.

Catch every match and move by tuning into Chess at EWC 25 from July 31st through August 1st. Competitors will make their first moves at 1:15PM KSA.