Feb 05, 2025.
Chess is one of the world’s most popular and enduring strategy games. And now, with its addition to the Esports World Cup 2025 lineup, we are settling the debate: It’s officially an esport, too!
In partnership with Chess.com, the Esports World Cup Foundation is proud to welcome the world's top online chess players to compete in Riyadh for a $1.5 million dollar prize pool. On top of this, Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen is joining Esports World Cup Chess as a Global Ambassador.
Online chess is more than just a port of chess to a computer. With tools like instant time control and premoves in the mix, online chess is actually altered by its digital medium. This makes the game distinct from the traditional over the board variant. So in truth, online chess was an esport even before the term esport was ever coined.
What has recently changed is the ecosystem around chess. Online chess has made huge gains in popularity in the past few years, with platforms like Chess.com now boasting hundreds of millions of members.
Fueled by the release of the Netflix drama The Queen’s Gambit and the rising popularity of chess streamers on Twitch and YouTube, chess has been transformed from a classic game to an undeniable global phenomenon played by people of all ages and backgrounds.
Esports organizations like TSM, OpTic, and others have even signed chess pros like Hikaru Nakamura and the Botez sisters to their rosters amid the exploding popularity of online chess competition, further entrenching chess as a cornerstone of the esports world.
Magnus Carlsen, who is regarded as one of the greatest chess players in history, joins Chess at the Esports World Cup as an ambassador to help connect chess with the broader esports community by showcasing the mental strategy and competitive spirit that chess shares with other top-tier esports titles.
“I’m thrilled to see chess join some of the biggest games in the world at the Esports World Cup," said Magnus Carlsen. "This partnership is an incredible opportunity to grow the game, by introducing chess to new audiences and inspiring the next generation of players. Being part of the esports family is an amazing opportunity for chess to broaden its reach to a massive group of esports fans.”
Chess at the EWC will be played in a rapid 10+0 chess format. That means competitors will have 10 minutes on the clock with no opportunity for additional time.
Rapid time control is one of the most balanced formats of chess, offering players enough time to showcase their strategic brilliance through well considered moves while maintaining a fast pace that keeps the games exciting to watch and play.
Twelve players hoping to compete at the EWC will qualify through the Champions Chess Tour, which will host two online tour events in February and May of 2025. A final Last Chance Qualifier will take place in Riyadh to select the final four competitors. That competition will be open to amateur and professional players alike!
“Bringing chess, the mother of all strategy games, to the Esports World Cup is a truly exciting moment,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation. “Partnering with the leading online platform for the game, Chess.com, and the legendary Magnus Carlsen — a true GOAT of the sport — allows us to not only showcase chess on a massive stage but also to drive innovation and growth within its already vibrant ecosystem. We're eager to see how our Clubs embrace this new challenge and how this collaboration can elevate competitive chess to even greater heights."
We’ll be keeping you updated on the results and competitors leading up to EWC. Tune into the 2025 Esports World Cup Chess tournament from July 31st through August 1st, 2025!