Chess has been officially confirmed on the schedule for the Esports World Cup 2027 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It marks the third consecutive year that the traditional board game will feature as a major medal event on the global esports calendar.
Organisers announced that online platform Chess.com is partnering with the Esports Foundation to establish the qualification pathway. The upcoming 2026-2027 Champions Chess Tour cycle will determine which players earn spots for the finals in Riyadh.
Two-time champion Magnus Carlsen has already secured his place for the 2027 event after winning the title in Paris earlier this year. The Norwegian grandmaster will be aiming to become only the second competitor in Esports World Cup history to achieve three consecutive titles.
Carlsen retained his crown in Paris by sweeping past surprise finalist Denis Lazavik with a 2-0 set victory in the Grand Final. The Team Liquid representative dominated the decisive match without dropping a single game.
Lazavik had earlier produced a standout run in the playoff bracket, eliminating Nodirbek Abdusattorov in the quarter-finals before defeating Hikaru Nakamura. That semi-final victory earned key points for AG.AL, helping them secure the overall Club Championship title ahead of Team Falcons.
Carlsen reached the final in Paris after coming through group matches against Andrey Esipenko and Hans Moke Niemann. He then recorded playoff victories over Nihal Sarin and 2025 finalist Alireza Firouzja to complete his title defense.
Among the contenders aiming to challenge Carlsen in 2027 is 22-year-old Abdusattorov, who recently led Uzbekistan to victory at the Chess Olympiad 2026. Currently ranked fifth in the world, the former World Rapid Champion was pushed to five games by Lazavik in their Paris quarter-final.
Established grandmasters Ian Nepomniachtchi, Fabiano Caruana, and Jan-Krzysztof Duda are also expected to feature heavily during the qualification process. Younger contenders including Vincent Keymer and Wei Yi will also compete through the Champions Chess Tour route.
The 2026 edition featured a expanded Indian contingent, with Nihal Sarin, Aravindh Chithambaram, and Pranesh M representing S8UL Esports, while Arjun Erigaisi played for Gen.G Esports. Nihal and Erigaisi both reached the quarter-finals in Paris.
Additionally, American player Niemann represented Indian organization GodLike Esports during the 2026 event. Further details regarding exact dates and prize pool allocation for the Esports World Cup 2027 tournament in Riyadh will be announced as the qualification stage progresses.
Join the conversation