 "Exclusive: Nihal Sarin to make Esports World Cup 2025 debut, says new format is the 'future of chess'")
Indian chess Grandmaster Nihal Sarin is all set to compete in the Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh, where he will represent Team S8UL. Speaking exclusively to Firstpost, the 21-year-old shared his thoughts on preparation, format, and the experience of playing in this unique environment.
Nihal earned his place at the World Cup after a superb run in the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ). “Of course, it was a very tough field. I was just trying to enjoy and not take any pressure,” Nihal said. “There was some pressure, but I was really enjoying everything. Fortunately, I managed to show a pretty good level.”
The youngster put on an impressive display in the LCQ group stage, registering five wins and finishing with 5.5 points to secure a spot in the top four of Group B. In the playoffs, he produced a remarkable comeback against Belarusian player Denis Lazavik, and followed that up with another 1.5-0.5 win over Anish Giri.
Sarin on his preparation for Esports World Cup
He sealed his ticket to Riyadh by beating Andrey Esipenko 2.5-1.5 in a thrilling winners’ bracket match. When asked about his preparation for the main event, Nihal said, “In regard to preparation, nothing special. Just trying to relax and reset and be well rested before the new tournament.”
Nihal, who is currently ranked 8th in India and 37th in the world with a FIDE rating of 2692, will join 15 of the world’s top players at the Esports World Cup. The lineup includes Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Alireza Firouzja, and fellow Indian Arjun Erigaisi.
Nihal also praised his team, S8UL, for the support and opportunity to be part of the event. “I am very, very thankful to my team S8UL for giving me the opportunity to be part of this fantastic event. I have never really seen anything like this. They are supporting in every way possible. They are taking care of me extremely well. I will remember this experience for a lifetime.”
Sarin on future of chess and the best format
Nihal backed the tournament format, calling it the future of the sport. “I strongly feel that this format, or a similar format, is the future of chess,” he said. “The traditional, classical chess is the purest form and of highest quality — it’s like Test cricket. But this Esports format, with live commentary, a faster pace, and even a video game element, is great for viewership. That’s what sports need to grow.”
The Esports World Cup 2025 chess event will have a $1.5 million prize pool (over Rs 13 crore). Each player will get 10 minutes for the whole game and there won’t be any extra time added after each move. If the match ends in a tie, it will be decided by one final Armageddon game. The final will be played as a best-of-three sets match.
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