Chess Set to Shine at Esports World Cup 2027
Chess Officially Included in Esports World Cup 2027
The inclusion of chess in the Esports World Cup 2027 has been officially announced. For the third consecutive year, elite chess players will compete at the EWC, aiming to dethrone Magnus Carlsen, the two-time champion of the event. A press release revealed that Chess.com, the largest chess community globally, is collaborating with the Esports Foundation to identify the players who will qualify for EWC 2027 through an enhanced Champions Chess Tour for the 2026-2027 season.
Reflecting on the EWC 2026 Journey
As the Esports World Cup took place in Paris, spectators were eager to see if chess legend Magnus Carlsen could add another trophy to his collection. After defeating Andrey Esipenko and Hans Moke Niemann, Carlsen secured his spot in the playoffs. He then triumphed over Nihal Sarin and EWC 2025 finalist Alireza Firouzja, setting the stage for a Grand Final showdown.
While many anticipated Carlsen's return to the Grand Final, the identity of his opponent was uncertain. Nineteen-year-old Denis Lazavik displayed remarkable skill in the playoffs, overcoming Nodirbek Abdusattor to face Hikaru Nakamura. Although Carlsen and Nakamura were in the same group, they never faced each other during the event. Lazavik avenged his earlier defeat to Nakamura in the group stage, capitalizing on mistakes to reach an unexpected final against Carlsen. This semi-final also had significant implications for the overall Club Championship, as EWC 26 Club champion AG.AL gained crucial points through Lazavik, impacting Team Falcons' Nakamura, who was also in contention for the title.
Ultimately, Carlsen reaffirmed his status as the world's top chess player by successfully defending his EWC title, defeating Lazavik without losing a single game and securing a 2-0 victory.
Players to Watch for EWC 2027
The journey to EWC is already in motion, determining which chess stars will compete in Riyadh for the Esports World Cup 2027. Here are some key players to keep an eye on:
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The Rising Global Field
In addition to Carlsen and Nakamura, numerous world-class chess players will vie for victory at Esports World Cup 2027. Players like Vincent Keymer, Wei Yi, and Nihal Sarin are potential dark horses, while established names such as Ian Nepomniachtchi, Fabiano Caruana, and Jan-Krzysztof Duda will aim to make a significant impact. As the Road to EWC heats up, the list of contenders will become clearer.
Growing Indian Representation
India has doubled its player representation from the previous edition, marking its largest presence in the Chess competition at Esports World Cup 2026 with four Grandmasters. Nihal Sarin, Aravindh Chithambaram, and Pranesh M competed under the esports organization S8UL Esports, while Arjun Erigaisi represented Gen.G Esports. Both Nihal and Arjun advanced to the quarterfinals, highlighting India's growing influence in the global chess arena. Additionally, Indian esports organization GodLike Esports was selected as an EWC Club Partner, further showcasing the country's expanding footprint in esports chess, setting the stage for a stronger showing at EWC 2027.