Ten minutes for the sport, no increments
Chess will characteristic on the Esports World Cup for a second consecutive 12 months, with the 2026 competitors happening from 11 to fifteen August at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. The event brings collectively 22 gamers throughout its Play-In and essential levels, with a complete prize fund of $1.5 million. All video games shall be performed at a time management of 10 minutes per participant, with out increment.
Magnus Carlsen returns as defending champion after successful the inaugural chess competitors on the Esports World Cup in Riyadh last year. Among the many different established gamers already certified for the primary group stage are Hikaru Nakamura, Alireza Firouzja, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Arjun Erigaisi, Jan-Krzysztof Duda and Nodirbek Abdusattorov. Fourteen gamers have secured direct locations within the 16-player group stage, whereas the remaining two spots shall be determined in an eight-player Play-In on Tuesday.
Searching for a gap that will get your opponents pondering on transfer one? Grandmaster Andy Woodward has relied on 1.b3 for years in blitz and bullet, utilizing it to defeat sturdy masters and grandmasters who underestimated its hidden venom. Whereas many gamers dismiss the opening as innocent, they usually discover themselves caught in unfamiliar positions, tactical traps, and uncomfortable middlegames. This compact course is designed particularly for sensible play. As a substitute of overwhelming you with countless concept, it focuses on the important strains, typical plans, and recurring tactical concepts that matter most when the clock is ticking.
Free video pattern: Introduction
Free video pattern: King’s Indian Setup
Alireza Firouzja reached the Grand Last in 2025
Hikaru Nakamura beat Arjun Erigaisi within the match for third place
Qualification for the event has taken place by a number of routes. Carlsen obtained an computerized berth because the reigning champion, whereas Benjamin Bok certified by successful the India Rising occasion. Twelve additional direct entrants emerged from the 2025-26 Champions Chess Tour. The qualification system has additionally included DreamHack Atlanta and a Final Probability Qualifier staged in Paris instantly earlier than the primary occasion.
The Paris Final Probability Qualifier started with 86 gamers divided into 4 seven-round Swiss teams.
- Wei Yi gained Group A with 6/7
- Daniil Dubov* topped Group B with 6½/7
- Andrew Tang* scored 6/7 in Group C
- Alexander Grischuk completed first in Group D with 6/7
* Didn’t qualify within the subsequent stage
Sixteen gamers progressed to the next knockout stage, the place 5 locations within the Esports World Cup Play-In had been accessible.
Vladislav Artemiev and Parham Maghsoodloo had been the primary two gamers to safe these locations. Artemiev defeated Grischuk earlier than overcoming Oleksandr Bortnyk 2½–1½ in his qualification match, whereas Maghsoodloo beat Tang after which defeated Wei 3–1. Wei recovered to qualify by beating Grischuk 2½–1½, whereas Bortnyk earned his berth with a 3–1 victory over Tang. Grischuk took the fifth and ultimate place by defeating Tang 3–0 of their last-chance match.
Dealing with the Sicilian doesn’t should be sophisticated. The Alapin Variation (1.e4 c5 2.c3) gives a easy but extremely efficient answer to all main Sicilian strains, by sidestepping them with 2.c3. Whether or not your opponent performs the Najdorf, Taimanov, or Dragon, the Alapin enables you to take management of the sport as early as transfer two.
Free video pattern: Introduction
Free video pattern: 2…g6
These 5 will be a part of Aravindh Chithambaram, Le Quang Liem and Andrey Esipenko, who certified by DreamHack Atlanta, in Tuesday’s eight-player Play-In. Solely the highest two will advance to the 16-player group stage.
The group stage will then cut back the sphere from 16 to eight by double-elimination play, after which the surviving gamers transfer on to the single-elimination playoffs. The event concludes on 15 August, with $250,000 allotted to the winner. The fast, no-increment format is identical primary time management used eventually 12 months’s Esports World Cup and locations a further premium on clock administration alongside the place on the board.
The sphere will, nonetheless, be lacking a number of main grandmasters due to a conflict with the Grand Chess Tour schedule. Fabiano Caruana, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Levon Aronian, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, Wesley So and Anish Giri are amongst these not participating.
