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Chess has come a long way from its early days in ancient India, where it began as a game called chaturanga. The game started to look more like the version we know today around the 1500s. But it wasn’t until the 1800s that chess got its first official rules, standard pieces, and time controls.
From there, chess spread around the world quickly. In 1886, Wilhelm Steinitz became the first official World Chess Champion. Since then, the game has kept growing, with each generation bringing new strategies and styles to the board.
Chess Goes Digital
Things really changed in the late 20th century when chess entered the digital era. Computers became both opponents and tools for players, especially when Garry Kasparov famously faced off against IBM’s Deep Blue. Today, online chess is booming. Fast time formats, premoves, and live-streamed games have added exciting new twists to the classic game.
Now, 139 years after that first World Championship, chess is hitting another big milestone. The very first Esports World Cup Chess Champion will be crowned this week. It’s a huge moment for the digital side of the game and shows just how far chess has come.
Top Grandmasters in the Mix
The 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC) features some of the biggest names in chess. The top twelve players from this year’s CCT standings, like Alireza Firouzja, Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana, and Magnus Carlsen, earned direct spots in the event. They’re joined by four players who battled through the Last Chance Qualifier: Javokhir Sindarov, Nihal Sarin, Anish Giri, and Levon Aronian. Over 135 players showed up in Riyadh for that chance.
A lot of these grandmasters have also been signed by esports teams looking to win the Club Championship. Team Liquid made headlines by signing three of the world’s top four players: Carlsen, Caruana, and Praggnanandhaa, who just missed the main event after the LCQ. Team Falcons, a local favorite, grabbed both Nakamura and Firouzja. Meanwhile, Team Vitality, the current front-runner in the Club Championship, will be represented by Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Javokhir Sindarov.
Unique Format, Big Stakes
The tournament kicks off with 16 players split into four groups of four. Each group plays in a GSL-style format using 10-minute Rapid games with no time increment. Every match has two games, and if players are tied, it’s settled with an Armageddon game.
Top players from each group move on to the knockout stage. There, matches get longer, with four games in the quarterfinals, six in the semifinals, and a best-of-three sets format for the grand final. Each of the first two sets has four games, and a short third set is played if needed.
Who Will Handle the Pressure?
This format puts a lot of pressure on players, especially with no extra time added after each move. Some have already had a tough time adjusting. For example, Hans Niemann had a winning position but ran out of time and lost to Sindarov. He was later knocked out of the qualifier by Anish Giri.
Without an increment, it’s easy to make mistakes when the clock is ticking. This format rewards players who can think fast, stay focused, and manage their time well.
With $1.5 million in prize money and 2,750 Club Championship points on the line, including $250,000 and 1,000 points for the winner, this is one of the biggest events in chess esports history. All eyes are on who will rise to the occasion.
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