Bengaluru: Chess will make its debut on the 2025 Esports World Cup, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Magnus Carlsen is international ambassador of Esports World Cup. (AFP)
The Esports World Cup Basis (EWCF), and Chess.com have introduced a multi-year partnership that can deliver aggressive on-line chess to the 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC), with world No 1 and former world champion Magnus Carlsen as international ambassador.
As a part of the partnership, the Champions Chess Tour (CCT), will turn into the first pathway to qualify for the EWC championship occasion. In 2025, there will probably be two on-line Tour occasions, in February and Might, boasting a mixed $300k prize pool.
“Bringing chess, a game that has been played for 1,500 years, to the Esports World Cup is a truly exciting moment,” mentioned Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Basis. “It’s the perfect example of how games evolve: from boards to screens, the core competition stays the same. Chess’ 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.
“Partnering with the leading online platform for the game, Chess.com, and appointing the legendary Magnus Carlsen, a true GOAT of the sport, as the game’s ambassador, allows us to not only showcase Chess on a massive stage but also to drive innovation and growth within its already vibrant ecosystem. We’re eager to see how our clubs embrace this new challenge.”
The highest 12 gamers from the CCT will probably be invited to the EWC Chess match, which is able to happen between July 31 and August 3, 2025. A Final Likelihood Qualifier (LCQ), open to each beginner {and professional} gamers, will probably be held in Riyadh and can decide 4 remaining spots to spherical out the sphere of opponents. Gamers will compete for a share of the $1.5 million prize pool, and Esports World Cup Membership Championship factors.
Matches will probably be performed within the fast 10+0 Chess format, giving video games a fast tempo whereas nonetheless showcasing the strategic brilliance of the gamers. Ought to a match be tied after regulation, there will probably be a single Armageddon sport as a tiebreaker.
“I’m thrilled to see chess join some of the biggest games in the world at the Esports World Cup,” mentioned 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.”