S8UL Unveils Star-Studded Chess Roster for Esports World Cup 2026: Grandmaster M. Pranesh Joins Forces with Nihal Sarin and Aravindh Chithambaram
S8UL Unveils Stellar Roster for 2026 Esports World Cup, Welcomes Chess Grandmaster M. Pranesh
May 4, 2026 — In an exciting announcement that has sent ripples through the esports community, S8UL has confirmed its athlete roster for the upcoming 2026 Esports World Cup (EWC), featuring a diverse lineup across 12 competitive titles. Among the standout signings is Indian chess Grandmaster M. Pranesh, who joins fellow Grandmasters Nihal Sarin and Aravindh Chithambaram, further solidifying S8UL’s chess team as a formidable contender.
Chess makes a triumphant return to the EWC, following its debut last year, where the world’s elite players will vie for a staggering prize pool of $1.5 million (approximately INR 14 crore) from August 11 to 15. The tournament will see the defending champion automatically qualify, alongside two players from the Speed Chess Championship 2025 and one from the Chess.com Open 2026, securing four spots ahead of the competition.
Currently, S8UL’s Nihal Sarin ranks seventh and Pranesh fifteenth in the Champions Chess Tour standings, making them the top-ranked Indian players in the race for nine additional qualifying spots. Aspiring players can also look forward to opportunities at DreamHack Atlanta from May 15 to 17, which will award four spots, as well as Last Chance Qualifiers leading up to the tournament.
Beyond chess, S8UL is gearing up to make a significant impact across various gaming genres, including mobile, PC, console, fighting games, racing, battle royale, and strategy titles. The organization will field a mix of championship-winning rosters and newly signed talent, aiming to dominate the EWC 2026, set to take place in Riyadh from July 6 to August 23. This year’s event is expected to attract over 2,000 players from 200 clubs across more than 100 countries, competing for a record-breaking $75 million (approximately INR 711 crore) prize pool.
S8UL’s EWC 2026 Roster Highlights:
- Apex Legends: Rick Wirth (Sharky), Benjamin Spaseski (Jesko), Tom Canty (Legacy)
- Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI): Aaryaman Seth (Thunder), Harsh Paudwal (Goblin), Khush Singh (Jokerr), Nakul Sharma (NakuL), Yash Choudhary (LEGIT)
- Call of Duty (COD): Warzone: Aidan Provenzano (Knight), Chris Paez (Clumziy), Raul Mercado III (Rxul)
- Chess: Aravindh Chithambaram, Nihal Sarin, M. Pranesh
- EA Sports FC: Aditya Chadha (Krusher), Jonas Wirth (Jonny), Julien Perbal (Fouma)
- Fatal Fury and Street Fighter 6: Ansh Arora (Closing Regent), Prateek Bhaunt (B Haunt), Prince (Prince)
- Fortnite: David Ciubotariu (Faded), Kaan Tafli (Kaan)
- Honor of Kings: Darkness, Meruem, Xtreme, XesoL, Kyurem, Kael, Doffy, Kong
- MOBA Legends 5v5: Bikash Tamang (Bobe), Chirag Singh (Radium), Debasish Sana (Anti), Jay Mehta (J), Mohammad Saad (Apex), Muhammad Syahroni (Ronn)
- TEKKEN 8: Akhil Kakar (Tetsu), Gurashish Singh (Soul), Mohammad Sameer (AK Arhaan), Nakul Sharma (Weak Akuma)
- Trackmania: Alexander Page (Whizzy), Kunal Upreti (Spark), Neal Kamdar (Neal)
As the esports landscape continues to evolve, S8UL’s strategic moves and robust roster position them as a key player in the upcoming EWC, promising thrilling matches and fierce competition. Fans and followers eagerly await the action-packed summer ahead!