In 2025, chess will be part of the Esports World Cup for the first time. This big event will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) and Chess.com have teamed up to bring chess to esports. The famous chess player Magnus Carlsen, who was once the world champion, will be the face of chess in this event.
This partnership means that players can compete online in chess tournaments to qualify for the World Cup. There will be two online chess events in February and May, with a total prize pool of $300,000!
Ralf Reichert, the CEO of EWCF, said, “It’s exciting to see chess, a game that has been loved for 1,500 years, join the Esports World Cup. Chess’s long history and large fan base make it a perfect fit for our event.”
The top 12 players from the Champions Chess Tour will get to play in the Esports World Cup Chess tournament from July 31 to August 3, 2025. There will also be a Last Chance Qualifier for other players to earn a spot in the tournament. The total prize money for chess will be $1.5 million!
Games will be played in a fast-paced style called rapid chess, where players have 10 minutes to make their moves. If there is a tie after the regular games, there will be a special tiebreaker game called Armageddon. Magnus Carlsen expressed his excitement, saying this is a great chance to bring chess to new fans and inspire young players.
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