Chess at Esports World Cup 2026: Format, dates, prize money and everything else you need to know

Chess is set to remain part of the Esports World Cup after a successful debut in Riyadh last year, with world No 1 and five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen headlining the event once again. In a social media post earlier this week, the Esports World Cup Foundation shed light on the qualification pathways as well as the format, dates and other information pertaining to the World Cup that will once again be taking place in the capital city of the Gulf kingdom.

As per the announcement, there are four pathways for players to qualify for the Esports World Cup, one of which is reserved for the winner of the 2025 edition – Carlsen in this case. World Cup hopefuls can also book their slot in the tournament through the Speed Chess Championship as well as the Chess.com Global Championship, both events offering three slots each.

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Another six slots will then be decided through the Champion Chess Tour leaderboard. That, however, is not all as far as the number of chess Grandmasters in action at the Esports World Cup is concerned, with the EWCF set to announce additional slots for the event at a later date.

The sharpest minds in the world gather to outthink, outlast, and outplay.

Chess returns to the 2026 Esports World Cup ♟️ pic.twitter.com/KZBLQU9FD7

— EWC Extra (@EWC_Extra) February 3, 2026

While the third edition of the Esports World Cup will be taking place from 6 July to 23 August in Riyadh, the world’s top chess players will assemble in the Saudi capital from 11 to 15 August, with a total prize pool of $1.5 million (£1.09 million) being set aside for this event.

What the format will be like at Esports World Cup 2026 Chess? 

As for the format, the chess event will feature three stages. The Play-in will feature eight players divided into two groups of four and will take place in a GSL format wherein two games are played per match.

That will be followed by the group stage, which will feature 16 players divided into two groups of eight. This stage will follow a double elimination bracket, with matches once again comprising two games.

The top four teams from each group then advance to the Playoffs, the final stage of the chess tournament at the 2026 Esports World Cup. A total of eight players will be in action in this round, competing in a single-elimination bracket with matches in this stage featuring four games.

Also Read | Carlsen reflects on unique experience of playing at Esports World Cup

The number of games per match will then increase to six when only four players are left standing. The top two players will then be facing off for the title in best-of-three clash.

Carlsen, who represents Team Liquid, had won the chess event last year after beating Team Falcons' Alireza Firouzja 2-0 in the final. The Norwegian had defeated India’s Nihal Sarin (S8UL Esports) during the quarter-finals in the playoff en route to victory.

Indian No 1 Arjun Erigaisi, representing Gen.G Esports, had gone as far as the semi-finals, ultimately finishing fourth after suffering a 2.5-3.5 loss to Hikaru Nakamura (Team Falcons) in the third-place playoff.