Indian Grandmaster Nihal Sarin Qualifies for Esports World Cup Chess Event in Paris
Mumbai’s Nihal Sarin Qualifies for Esports World Cup Chess Event in Paris
In a remarkable achievement for Indian chess, Grandmaster Nihal Sarin has successfully qualified for the chess event of the upcoming Esports World Cup (EWC) in Paris. Representing the esports and gaming content outfit S8UL, Sarin secured his spot through the Champions Chess Tour (CCT) leaderboard, joining teammate Aravindh Chithambaram as only the second Indian player to qualify for this prestigious tournament.
The EWC chess competition, set to take place from August 11 to 15, boasts an impressive prize pool of USD 1.5 million. This year’s EWC will feature over 2,000 players from 200 clubs across more than 100 countries, all vying for a record-breaking total prize pool of USD 75 million.
Sarin’s journey to qualification was not without its challenges. He narrowly missed direct qualification through the Chess.com Open (CCO), finishing fourth—just one spot shy of the mark. However, his performance earned him 100 crucial leaderboard points. Consistency across the Titled Tuesday Grand Prix (TTGP) circuit further bolstered his standing, with notable contributions from the Autumn and Winter Splits.
A standout second-place finish in the Spring Split ultimately propelled Sarin to accumulate 34 points, bringing his total to 139 points in the CCT standings, securing his berth at the EWC 2026.
Reflecting on his journey, Sarin expressed gratitude for the opportunity, stating, “This season required consistency across multiple formats and tournaments over several months, and I’m happy that the hard work paid off. Last year’s experience at the EWC gave me a real understanding of how competitive and intense the event is, and it has only motivated me to come back stronger this time.”
Sarin, who previously reached the quarterfinals at last year’s EWC before falling to eventual champion Magnus Carlsen, is eager to represent India and S8UL on this global stage once again. “It’s always special to compete against some of the very best players in the world,” he added.
Meanwhile, fellow S8UL Grandmaster Pranesh M is still in contention for EWC qualification, having finished just four spots behind the final qualifying position in the CCT leaderboard standings. He remains hopeful for a spot through the upcoming Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ), where four additional players will qualify for the tournament.
This year’s EWC chess competition will feature a revised two-phase format. The tournament will kick off with a newly introduced Play-In stage, where eight players qualified through the LCQ and DreamHack Atlanta will compete in a double-elimination bracket. The top performers will then advance to the Group Stage, which will consist of 16 players divided into two groups of eight.
As the countdown to the Esports World Cup begins, all eyes will be on Sarin and his quest for glory in Paris.