When chess debuts in the 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC), the world’s best players will compete for a share of the $1.5 million prize pool.
Chess is now an esport as the 1,500 year-old game is added to the 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC). EWC, the world’s largest esports and gaming festival, will return to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, next summer.
On December 1, 2024, the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) and Chess.com announced a groundbreaking multi-year partnership that will elevate competitive online chess to new heights. This move marks a significant milestone for chess, a game with over 600 million players worldwide, and for Chess.com, the leading online platform for chess enthusiasts, boasting nearly 200 million members.
A key highlight of this partnership is the integration of Chess.com’s Champions Chess Tour (CCT) as the primary qualifying path for top players to compete at the EWC championship event. The 2025 CCT will feature two online tournaments, scheduled for February and May, with a combined prize pool of $300,000. These events will provide a platform for the world’s best chess players to secure their spots on esports’ grandest stage.
“Bringing chess, a game that has been played for 1,500 years, to the Esports World Cup is a truly exciting moment,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation.
“It’s the perfect example of how games evolve: from boards to screens, the core competition stays the same. Chess’s rich history, global appeal, and thriving competitive scene make it a perfect fit for our mission to unite the world’s most popular games and their passionate communities under one competitive umbrella.”
The EWC chess tournament is scheduled to take place from July 31 to August 3, 2025, in Riyadh. The top 12 players from the CCT will earn invitations to compete, with four additional spots determined through a Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ). The LCQ, held in Riyadh, will be open to both amateur and professional players, offering them a shot at the $1.5 million prize pool and valuable EWC Club Championship points.
Reichert also emphasized the importance of partnering with Chess.com and appointing Magnus Carlsen as a global ambassador. He described Carlsen as a “true GOAT of the sport” and highlighted the potential for this collaboration to drive growth and innovation within chess’s vibrant ecosystem.
Magnus Carlsen, widely regarded as one of the greatest chess players of all time, will serve as the game’s ambassador at the EWC. Known for his legendary career and ability to captivate audiences, Carlsen has played a pivotal role in transforming chess into a modern global phenomenon. His involvement in the EWC is expected to further connect chess with the broader esports community and inspire a new generation of players and fans.
“I’m thrilled to see chess join some of the biggest games in the world at the Esports World Cup,” said Carlsen. “This partnership is an incredible opportunity to grow the game by introducing chess to new audiences and inspiring the next generation of players. Being part of the esports family is an amazing opportunity for chess to broaden its reach to a massive group of esports fans.”
The competition format has been designed to appeal to a new esports audience while preserving the strategic depth of chess. Matches will follow a rapid 10+0 chess format, ensuring a fast-paced yet intellectually engaging experience for players and viewers alike. In the event of a tie, an Armageddon game will serve as the tiebreaker, adding an extra layer of excitement to the competition.
Chess’s inclusion in the EWC aligns it with a lineup of over 20 of the world’s most popular gaming titles, bringing together top players, clubs, and fans under one banner. The unique cross-game competition format, which rewards clubs based on their performance across different titles, aims to foster growth and innovation within the esports and gaming ecosystem. The EWC represents the ultimate celebration of gaming as a global sport, and chess’s addition further solidifies its status as a key player in the modern competitive gaming landscape.
The Champions Chess Tour (CCT) has been at the forefront of online chess innovation since its launch in 2020. The Tour’s rapid-format tournaments have redefined the chess experience, offering a fully digital and viewer-friendly approach with live commentary and interactive features. The 2024 season is set to conclude this week in Oslo, Norway, where eight finalists will compete for the remaining $500,000 of the season’s $1.7 million prize pool.
The top 12 players from the CCT will secure invitations to the prestigious EWC Chess Tournament, scheduled to take place from July 31 to August 3, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Additionally, a Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) will be hosted in Riyadh, offering both amateur and professional players the opportunity to claim the final four spots in the tournament lineup. Competitors will battle for a slice of the $1.5 million prize pool, along with valuable points in the Esports World Cup Club Championship rankings.
The tournament format aims to captivate a fresh esports audience by presenting Chess in an exciting new way. Matches will be played in the rapid 10+0 format, delivering fast-paced action while highlighting the players' strategic mastery. In the event of a tie, the outcome will be decided by a single Armageddon game, adding an extra layer of tension and drama to the competition.
As chess takes its place among the world’s most celebrated esports titles, the partnership between EWCF and Chess.com promises to usher in a new era for the game. With Magnus Carlsen as its ambassador and a global stage at the Esports World Cup, chess is poised to captivate a new generation of players and fans, showcasing its timeless brilliance and competitive spirit to the world.
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