India Completes Chess Team for Esports Nations Cup 2026

India's chess team for the Esports Nations Cup 2026 is set, with Grandmaster Mitrabha Guha qualifying through the regional qualifier and Grandmaster Nihal Sarin receiving a direct invitation. The tournament will feature 128 players competing for a prize pool of USD 600,000. With notable players like Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura also participating, the competition promises to be intense. Mitrabha's recent success at the Commonwealth Chess Championship adds to the excitement as he prepares for this prestigious event. India's broader preparations across various esports titles are also underway, showcasing the country's commitment to excellence in the esports arena.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 15, 2026, 21:45 IST

India's Chess Team for Esports Nations Cup 2026

The Indian chess team for the Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026 has been finalized, with Grandmaster Mitrabha Guha securing his spot by winning the regional qualifier. He will join Grandmaster Nihal Sarin, who received a direct invitation via the Champions Chess Tour (CCT) Leaderboard, representing India at the international esports event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 2 to November 29.

Esports Nations Cup 2026: Overview and Structure

The ENC 2026 will feature 128 players competing for a total prize pool of USD 600,000 (approximately Rs 5.7 crore). The tournament kicks off on November 2 and wraps up with the playoff finals on November 8.

The initial phase will see all 128 players engage in a round-robin format, divided into 16 groups of eight. Following this, 64 players will progress to a single-elimination playoff bracket.

Among the participants, 64 players have received direct invitations based on the official CCT rankings, ensuring representation from 64 different nations. Notable players confirmed for the event include Magnus Carlsen from Norway, Jan-Krzysztof Duda from Poland, Alireza Firouzja from France, and Hikaru Nakamura from the USA.

Additionally, Alexandra Kosteniuk from Switzerland and Mai Narva from Estonia will be the first women to officially qualify for the tournament. The remaining 61 players qualified through regional qualifiers organized by Chess.com, while three players were granted wildcard entries.

India's Path to Qualification

Each country can send up to two players to the finals. If one player qualifies through the official rankings, another can still qualify via regional competitions. With Nihal already qualified through the CCT Leaderboard, only one more Indian player could advance through the regional route.

Mitrabha Guha's Impressive Performance

The regional qualifier for the Middle East, India, and Central Asia featured a nine-round Swiss stage with verified titled players competing under a 10+0 rapid time control. The top eight players moved on to a double-elimination knockout bracket, with four securing spots for the ENC 2026.

Mitrabha stood out among Indian competitors, finishing the Swiss stage as the only unbeaten player with six wins and three draws. His performance earned him a place in the Upper Bracket quarterfinals, where he triumphed over Syria's Malek Koniahli and then defeated Iran's Artin Ashraf in the semifinals to qualify for the ENC 2026 Finals.

At 24 years old, Mitrabha enters the ENC 2026 with significant momentum, having won gold at the Commonwealth Chess Championship earlier this year, adding to his title from the 2023-24 season.

Reflecting on his qualification, Mitrabha stated, "The regional qualifier was tough from start to finish. Chess is increasingly integral to the global esports landscape, and the Esports Nations Cup exemplifies this growth. The tournament will gather some of the strongest players worldwide, so preparation is crucial. In the coming months, I will focus on refining my game to ensure peak performance during the competition."

India's Broader Preparations for ENC 2026

India's preparations for the ENC 2026 extend across various titles. NODWIN Gaming, the National Team Partner (NTP) for the tournament, has announced the following national team rosters:

DOTA 2

- DOTA 2: Krish Gupta (Krish), Vishal Vernekar (HBK), Dhvanit Singh Negi (Negi), Manav Kunte (MnZ), and Yash Thakur (xand3r_^). Moin Ejaz (NO_Chanc3) will coach the team, which will compete in regional qualifiers from June 29 to July 1, with two teams qualifying.

MOBA Legends: 5v5!

- MOBA Legends: 5v5!: Gaithanlung Gonmei (Kyle), Susanta Biswas (Kimyy), Abhijeet Katkar (Asuna), Rithik Sohal (Romcom), Evancius A. Sangma (Vann), Mohammad Saad (Apex), and Jay Mehta (J). Coach Steve Vitug (Dale) leads the team, currently ranked 11th in the MOBA Legends: 5v5! ENC rankings. If they do not receive a direct invitation, they will compete in regional qualifiers on August 15-16.

Rocket League

- Rocket League: Abhai Ponna (Abscrazy), Karthik Raghunandan (Karvin), Aditeya Srivastav (Riyal), and substitute Jayanth Engineer (Orjanguse). Coach Nirjhar Mitra (jocse) will guide the team in regional qualifiers from July 17-19, where three teams from Asia will qualify for the ENC 2026 Finals.