Chess Makes Historic Debut at Esports World Cup 2025 with $1.5 Million Prize Pool

Chess.com and GM Magnus Carlsen have announced a major partnership with the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF), which means that competitive chess will be featured for the first time in the 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC), the world’s largest gaming and esports festival.

The prestigious event is set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from July 31 to August 3, 2025 and the partnership means the world’s top chess players will be competing for a massive $1.5 million prize pool. It’s a significant deal for the chess world as the game for the first time will be showcased to a new generation of esports enthusiasts.

“Bringing chess, the mother of all strategy games, to the Esports World Cup is a truly exciting moment,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation said. “With its rich history, global appeal, and thriving competitive scene, chess is a perfect fit for our mission to unite the world’s most popular games and their passionate communities.” he added.

With its rich history, global appeal, and thriving competitive scene, chess is a perfect fit for our mission to unite the world’s most popular games and their passionate communities.

—Ralf Reichert, CEO of EWCF

“Partnering with the leading online platform for the game, Chess.com, and the legendary Magnus Carlsen, a true GOAT of the sport, allows us to not only showcase chess on a massive stage but also to drive innovation and growth within its already vibrant ecosystem.” Reichert said.

Carlsen will join the Esports World Cup as an ambassador and help connect chess with the broader esports community. “I’m thrilled to see Chess join some of the biggest games in the world at the Esports World Cup,” he said, adding: “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.”

This partnership is an incredible opportunity to grow the game, by introducing chess to new audiences and inspiring the next generation of players.

—Magnus Carlsen

The 2025 Champions Chess Tour (CCT) will serve as the primary pathway for the world’s best players to qualify for the EWC Championship. In 2025, there will be two online Tour events, in February and May, boasting a combined $300,000 prize pool, offering players opportunities to compete on the world’s biggest esports stage. The top 12 players from the CCT and four additional players from a “Last Chance Qualifier” (LCQ) will be competing for the prizes.

Next season’s CCT will see a new format aimed at appealing to esports fans. Matches will be played with a time control of 10 minutes for the entire game, without any increment. Tiebreakers will be decided by a single Armageddon game.

The inclusion of chess in the Esports World Cup aligns with the tournament’s mission to unite the world’s most popular games under one banner. With over 20 gaming titles featured in its lineup, the EWC is a celebration of gaming as a global sport, promoting cross-game competition and innovation within the broader esports ecosystem.