2025 Esports World Cup – Chess

Chess at the
2025 Esports World Cup
Tournament information
GameChess
LocationRiyadh, Saudi Arabia
DateJuly 29 – Aug 1, 2025
AdministratorEsports World Cup Foundation
Chess.com
Tournament
format(s)
16 player GSL-style group stage
8 player single-elimination bracket
Teams13
PurseUS$1,500,000
Websiteesportsworldcup.com/chess
Final positions
ChampionsMagnus Carlsen (Team Liquid)
Runner-upAlireza Firouzja (Team Falcons)

The abstract strategy game chess had a tournament at the 2025 Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 29 to August 1, 2025. Sixteen players from thirteen teams took part in this tournament – 12 players from Champions Chess Tour 2025 standings and 4 players from the Last Chance Qualifier. 13 Teams qualified based on their player's performance in these tournaments.[1] Magnus Carlsen from Team Liquid defeated Alireza Firouzja from Team Falcons in the Grand final with 4 rounds to spare.[2]

It was the first chess tournament at the Esports World Cup, which is part of a three-year partnership between online gaming platform Chess.com and the Esports World Cup Foundation until 2027 to bring online chess into the event.[3]

Format

In the group stage, the sixteen players from thirteen (13) teams were divided into four groups and competed in a GSL-style double elimination bracket, with the first two teams to achieve two wins advancing to the quarterfinals. The opening matches are best-of-twos but the remaining matches are best-of-threes.

The playoffs were an eight-player single-elimination bracket. The teams that lose in the semifinals will compete in a third-place match.[4] All matches in the playoffs were best-of-threes but the final was a best-of-five.

Qualification

Twelve players qualified through their standings in the Champions Chess Tour 2025, and four from the Last Chance Qualifier.

Qualified teams

Event Qualifier
Champions Chess Tour 2025 Magnus Carlsen (Team Liquid)
Hikaru Nakamura (Team Falcons)
Ian Nepomniachtchi (Aurora Gaming)
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (Team Vitality)
Jan-Krzysztof Duda (Twisted Minds)
Arjun Erigaisi (Gen.G Esports)
Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Natus Vincere)
Vladislav Artemiev (Team Spirit)
Alireza Firouzja (Team Falcons)
Vladimir Fedoseev (withdrew)
Fabiano Caruana (Team Liquid)
Wei Yi (Weibo Gaming)
Last Chance Qualifier Javokhir Sindarov (Team Vitality)
Nihal Sarin (S8UL Esports)
Levon Aronian (REJECT)
Anish Giri (Team Secret)
Andrey Esipenko (Virtus.pro) (highest non-qualified, replacement for Fedoseev)

Draw

Group A Group B Group C Group D
Andrey Esipenko (Virtus.pro) Anish Giri (Team Secret) Alireza Firouzja (Team Falcons) Fabiano Caruana (Team Liquid)
Ian Nepomniachtchi (Aurora Gaming) Arjun Erigaisi (Gen.G Esports) Hikaru Nakamura (Team Falcons) Jan-Krzysztof Duda (Twisted Minds)
Levon Aronian (REJECT) Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (Team Vitality) Javokhir Sindarov (Team Vitality) Magnus Carlsen (Team Liquid)
Vladislav Artemiev (Team Spirit) Nihal Sarin (S8UL Esports) Wei Yi (Weibo Gaming) Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Natus Vincere)

Group stage

  • Dates: 29–30 July 2025
  • 16 players from thirteen teams were drawn into four groups of four players each.
  • Each group plays a double-elimination-style bracket.
  • The top two players from each group advance to the Playoffs. Remaining players are eliminated.
  • Time control: 10+0
  • In the Armageddon, the player who either wins or draws with the black pieces gets a full point and wins the match.

Group A

Opening MatchWinners MatchPlayoffs Qualified
29 July, 15:00 AST
A Esipenko (Virtus.pro)1.5
29 July, 20:20 AST
I Nepomniachtchi (Aurora Gaming)0.5
A Esipenko (Virtus.pro)0
29 July, 15:00 ASTL Aronian (REJECT)
L Aronian (REJECT)2
V Artemiev (Team Spirit)1
L Aronian (REJECT)2
Elimination MatchDecider Match
30 July, 16:20 AST
30 July, 15:00 ASTA Esipenko (Virtus.pro)1
I Nepomniachtchi (Aurora Gaming)
I Nepomniachtchi (Aurora Gaming)1.5I Nepomniachtchi (Aurora Gaming)2
V Artemiev (Team Spirit)0.5
Opening Match 29 July Andrey Esipenko 1.5 – 0.5 Ian Nepomniachtchi Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  
15:00 (UTC+3)      
0.5 Game 1 0.5
1 Game 2 0
Opening Match 29 July Vladislav Artemiev 1 – 2 Levon Aronian Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  
15:00 (UTC+3)      
0 Game 1 1
1 Game 2 0
0.5 Armageddon 0.5
Winners' Match 29 July Levon Aronian 2 – 0 Andrey Esipenko Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  
20:20 (UTC+3)      
1 Game 1 0
1 Game 2 0
Elimination Match 30 July Ian Nepomniachtchi 1.5 – 0.5 Vladislav Artemiev Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  
15:00 (UTC+3)      
1 Game 1 0
0.5 Game 2 0.5
Decider Match 30 July Andrey Esipenko 1 – 2 Ian Nepomniachtchi Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  
16:20 (UTC+3)      
1 Game 1 0
0 Game 2 1
0.5 Armageddon 0.5

Group B

Opening MatchWinners MatchPlayoffs Qualified
29 July, 16:10 AST
A Giri (Team Secret)0.5
29 July, 20:20 AST
M Vachier-Lagrave (Team Vitality)1.5
M Vachier-Lagrave (Team Vitality)1
29 July, 16:10 ASTA Erigaisi (Gen.G Esports)
A Erigaisi (Gen.G Esports)2
N Sarin (S8UL Esports)0
A Erigaisi (Gen.G Esports)2
Elimination MatchDecider Match
30 July, 16:20 AST
30 July, 15:00 ASTM Vachier-Lagrave (Team Vitality)0.5
N Sarin (S8UL Esports)
A Giri (Team Secret)0N Sarin (S8UL Esports)1.5
N Sarin (S8UL Esports)2
Opening Match 29 July Anish Giri 0.5 – 1.5 Maxime Vachier-Lagrave Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  
16:10 (UTC+3)      
0 Game 1 1
0.5 Game 2 0.5
Opening Match 29 July Nihal Sarin 0 – 2 Arjun Erigaisi Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  
16:10 (UTC+3)      
0 Game 1 1
0 Game 2 1
Winners' Match 29 July Maxime Vachier-Lagrave 1 – 2 Arjun Erigaisi Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  
20:20 (UTC+3)      
0 Game 1 1
1 Game 2 0
0 Armageddon 1
Elimination Match 30 July Anish Giri 0 – 2 Nihal Sarin Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  
15:00 (UTC+3)      
0 Game 1 1
0 Game 2 1
Decider Match 30 July Maxime Vachier-Lagrave 0.5 – 1.5 Nihal Sarin Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  
16:20 (UTC+3)      
0.5 Game 1 0.5
0 Game 2 1

Group C

Opening MatchWinners MatchPlayoffs Qualified
29 July, 17:40 AST
J Sindarov (Team Vitality)0
29 July, 21:40 AST
H Nakamura (Team Falcons)2
H Nakamura (Team Falcons)1
29 July, 17:40 ASTA Firouzja (Team Falcons)
A Firouzja (Team Falcons)2
A Firouzja (Team Falcons)1.5
Y Wei (Weibo Gaming)0.5
Elimination MatchDecider Match
30 July, 20:20 AST
30 July, 17:40 ASTH Nakamura (Team Falcons)2
H Nakamura (Team Falcons)
J Sindarov (Team Vitality)0Y Wei (Weibo Gaming)1
Y Wei (Weibo Gaming)2
Opening Match 29 July Javokhir Sindarov 0 – 2 Hikaru Nakamura Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  
17:40 (UTC+3)      
0 Game 1 1
0 Game 2 1
Opening Match 29 July Alireza Firouzja 1.5 – 0.5 Wei Yi Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  
17:40 (UTC+3)      
1 Game 1 0
0.5 Game 2 0.5
Winners' Match 29 July Hikaru Nakamura 1 – 2 Alireza Firouzja Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  
21:40 (UTC+3)      
0.5 Game 1 0.5
0.5 Game 2 0.5
0.5 Armageddon 0.5
Elimination Match 30 July Javokhir Sindarov 0 – 2 Wei Yi Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  
17:40 (UTC+3)      
0 Game 1 1
0 Game 2 1
Decider Match 30 July Hikaru Nakamura 2 – 1 Wei Yi Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  
20:20 (UTC+3)      
0.5 Game 1 0.5
0.5 Game 2 0.5
1 Armageddon 0

Group D

Opening MatchWinners MatchPlayoffs Qualified
29 July, 19:00 AST
N Abdusattorov (Natus Vincere)0.5
29 July, 21:40 AST
M Carlsen (Team Liquid)1.5
M Carlsen (Team Liquid)1.5
29 July, 19:00 ASTM Carlsen (Team Liquid)
J-K Duda (Twisted Minds)0.5
J-K Duda (Twisted Minds)1.5
F Caruana (Team Liquid)0.5
Elimination MatchDecider Match
30 July, 21:40 AST
30 July, 19:00 ASTJ-K Duda (Twisted Minds)1
N Abdusattorov (Natus Vincere)
N Abdusattorov (Natus Vincere)2N Abdusattorov (Natus Vincere)2
F Caruana (Team Liquid)1
Opening Match 29 July Nodirbek Abdusattorov 0.5 – 1.5 Magnus Carlsen Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  
19:00 (UTC+3)      
0 Game 1 1
0.5 Game 2 0.5
Opening Match 29 July Jan-Krzysztof Duda 1.5 – 0.5 Fabiano Caruana Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  
19:00 (UTC+3)      
0.5 Game 1 0.5
1 Game 2 0
Winners' Match 29 July Magnus Carlsen 1.5 – 0.5 Jan-Krzysztof Duda Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  
21:40 (UTC+3)      
1 Game 1 0
0.5 Game 2 0.5
Elimination Match 30 July Nodirbek Abdusattorov 2 – 1 Fabiano Caruana Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  
19:00 (UTC+3)      
1 Game 1 0
0 Game 2 1
1 Armageddon 0
Decider Match 31 July Jan-Krzysztof Duda 1 – 2 Nodirbek Abdusattorov Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  
21:40 (UTC+3)      
0.5 Game 1 0.5
0.5 Game 2 0.5
0 Armageddon 1

Playoffs

  • Dates: 31 July – 1 August 2025
  • Eight players will be drawn into matchups based on a draw.
  • Time control: 10+0
  • In the Armageddon, the player who either wins or draws with the black pieces gets a full point and wins the match.
QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal
31 July, 15:00 AST
Alireza Firouzja (Team Falcons)3
31 July, 19:00 AST
Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Natus Vincere)1
Alireza Firouzja (Team Falcons)4
31 July, 15:00 AST
Arjun Erigaisi (Gen.G Esports)1
Ian Nepomniachtchi (Aurora Gaming)1.5
1 August, 19:00 AST
Arjun Erigaisi (Gen.G Esports)2.5
Alireza Firouzja (Team Falcons)0
31 July, 17:00 AST
Magnus Carlsen (Team Liquid)2
Levon Aronian (REJECT)1.5
31 July, 21:40 AST
Hikaru Nakamura (Team Falcons)2.5
Hikaru Nakamura (Team Falcons)3
31 July, 17:00 AST
Magnus Carlsen (Team Liquid)41 August, 16:00 AST
Magnus Carlsen (Team Liquid)2.5
Nihal Sarin (S8UL Esports)0.5
Quarterfinals 31 July Alireza Firouzja 3 – 1 Nodirbek Abdusattorov Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  
15:00 (UTC+3)      
0.5 Game 1 0.5
0.5 Game 2 0.5
1 Game 3 0
1 Game 4 0
Quarterfinals 31 July Ian Nepomniachtchi 1.5 – 2.5 Arjun Erigaisi Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  
15:00 (UTC+3)      
0.5 Game 1 0.5
0 Game 2 1
1 Game 3 0
0 Game 4 1
Quarterfinals 31 July Levon Aronian 1.5 – 2.5 Hikaru Nakamura Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  
17:00 (UTC+3)      
0.5 Game 1 0.5
0 Game 2 1
1 Game 3 0
0 Game 4 1
Quarterfinals 31 July Magnus Carlsen 2.5 – 0.5 Nihal Sarin Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  
17:00 (UTC+3)      
0.5 Game 1 0.5
1 Game 2 0
1 Game 3 0
Game 4
Semifinals 31 July Alireza Firouzja 4 – 1 Arjun Erigaisi Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  
19:00 (UTC+3)      
1 Game 1 0
0.5 Game 2 0.5
1 Game 3 0
0.5 Game 4 0.5
1 Game 5 0
Game 6
Semifinals 31 July Hikaru Nakamura 3 – 4 Magnus Carlsen Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  
21:40 (UTC+3)      
0 Game 1 1
0.5 Game 2 0.5
1 Game 3 0
0 Game 4 1
0.5 Game 5 0.5
1 Game 6 0
0 Armageddon 1
Third Place Playoff 1 August Arjun Erigaisi 2.5 – 3.5 Hikaru Nakamura Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  
16:00 (UTC+3)      
1 Game 1 0
0.5 Game 2 0.5
0 Game 3 1
0 Game 4 1
1 Game 5 0
0 Game 6 1
Grand Final 1 August Alireza Firouzja 0 – 2 Magnus Carlsen Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  
19:00 (UTC+3)      
0 (Set 1) Game 1 1
0.5 Game 2 0.5
0.5 Game 3 0.5
0 Game 4 1
1 (Set 2) Game 1 0
0 Game 2 1
0 Game 3 1
0 Game 4 1

Ranking

A base prize pool of US$1,500,000 had been offered for the tournament. The prize pool was spread among the players as seen below:

Place Team Prize (USD)
1st Magnus Carlsen (Team Liquid) $250,000
2nd Alireza Firouzja (Team Falcons) $190,000
3rd Hikaru Nakamura (Team Falcons) $145,000
4th Arjun Erigaisi (Gen.G Esports) $115,000
5th–8th Ian Nepomniachtchi (Aurora Gaming) $90,000
Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Natus Vincere)
Levon Aronian (REJECT)
Nihal Sarin (S8UL Esports)
9th–12th Andrey Esipenko (Virtus.pro) $65,000
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (Team Vitality)
Wei Yi (Weibo Gaming)
Jan-Krzysztof Duda (Twisted Minds)
13th–16th Vladislav Artemiev (Team Spirit) $50,000
Anish Giri (Team Secret)
Javokhir Sindarov (Team Vitality)
Fabiano Caruana (Team Liquid)

References

  1. ^ "Chess at EWC25". Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  2. ^ "Chess at EWC 25 Champion: Carlsen Crushes Firouzja". esportsworldcup.com. July 23, 2025. Retrieved August 2, 2025.
  3. ^ Šimić, Ivan (December 18, 2024). "Chess joins Esports World Cup 2025, Magnus Carlsen appointed as ambassador". Esports Insider. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  4. ^ Phalip, Corentin (July 7, 2025). "Chess: Everything You Need to Know About the Esports World Cup". Sheep Esports. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
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