Nihal Sarin and Arjun Erigaisi Reach Quarterfinals at Esports World Cup 2026

Nihal Sarin and Arjun Erigaisi have successfully advanced to the quarterfinals of the Chess segment at the Esports World Cup 2026. Both Grandmasters showcased their skills in the lower bracket, with Nihal overcoming tough opponents to secure his spot. Arjun, who aims to improve on his previous fourth-place finish, expressed determination to compete against formidable players. The playoffs will feature a single-elimination format, with a total prize pool of $1.5 million at stake. Read on to discover more about their journey and the upcoming matches.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 14, 2026, 10:30 IST

Indian Grandmasters Shine in Esports World Cup

Nihal Sarin from S8UL Esports and Arjun Erigaisi of Gen.G Esports have successfully made their way to the quarterfinals of the Chess segment at the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026. This achievement comes after they navigated through the lower bracket on the final day of the group stage. Both players, who had previously reached the playoffs in the last edition, are set to represent India in the quarter-finals on August 14, competing for a share of the impressive $1.5 million (approximately Rs 14.3 crore) prize pool.

Path to the Quarterfinals

Nihal kicked off his day with a tightly contested match against Wei Yi from Team Nemesis in the lower bracket. After the first two games ended in draws, he managed to secure a win in the Armageddon tiebreaker, allowing him to advance to the decisive match. He then faced Jan-Krzysztof Duda from Weibo Gaming, drawing the first game but winning the second to secure his playoff spot. This marks another impressive performance for Nihal at the EWC, having reached the quarterfinals last year before being eliminated by the eventual champion, Magnus Carlsen.

Expressing his joy after qualifying, Nihal stated, "I am extremely happy to make the top eight again and to have played well in tough matches. The format is short, and being sharp from the start is crucial. One win can significantly impact your mindset. I’m relieved to have made it through and hope to perform well tomorrow."

Pranesh M's Journey and Arjun's Victory

Nihal's teammate, Pranesh M, also kept his hopes alive with a challenging win over Benjamin Bok from Team MGD1. After winning the first game, Pranesh nearly sealed the match in the second, but Bok made a late comeback, forcing an Armageddon tiebreaker that ended in a draw. Pranesh, playing with the Black pieces, advanced to the next round, setting up an all-Indian lower bracket decider against Arjun, who won decisively 2-0, thus concluding Pranesh's campaign.

Arjun, who finished fourth in the previous edition, aims to improve on that performance this year. After his victory, he remarked, "I’m pleased to have completed my task. Lifting the trophy will be challenging with strong competitors like Alireza and Magnus, but I will focus on giving my best."

Playoff Structure and Other Qualifiers

In Group B, Ian Nepomniachtchi from Aurora Gaming triumphed over Andrey Esipenko of Virtus.pro with a score of 1.5-0.5, setting up a lower bracket decider against Denis Lazavik from AG.AL. Additionally, Sina Movahed from Team Stallions defeated Alexey Sarana from Fnatic in an Armageddon tiebreaker, advancing to face Hans Moke Niemann from GodLike Esports.

The winners of these matchups will join Nihal and Arjun in the playoffs, alongside defending champion Magnus Carlsen, Alireza Firouzja from Team Falcons, Hikaru Nakamura, and Nodirbek Abdusattorov from Natus Vincere, completing the eight-player quarterfinal lineup.

The playoffs are scheduled for August 14 and 15, featuring a single-elimination format. The quarterfinals will consist of four games, followed by six-game semifinals, with the grand final determined through a best-of-three sets format. The first two sets will include four games each, with a potential third set comprising two games.