Esports World Cup 2025 Chess: format, schedule and players to watch

Backed by Grandmaster player Magnus Carlsen, chess is heading to the Esports World Cup for the first time.

Here is everything fans need to know about the Esports World Cup 2025 Chess competition from July 29th until August 1st.

The Esports World Cup (EWC), organised by the Saudi Arabian government-backed EWC Foundation, is hosting its second edition this year. The multi-title esports festival will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 8th until August 24th, offering a $70m (~£54.3m) combined prize pool.

Following a multi-year partnership with online chess platform Chess.com, the digital version of the prestigious board is joining the EWC 2025. The tournament will see 16 players battle for a prize pool of $1.5m (~£1.1m).

Chess players at EWC 2025 must progress through a GSL-style Group Stage, followed by a Playoffs bracket. All matches will be played in a 10+0 rapid format, meaning that players will have ten minutes to make their moves, with no additional time to be added.

During the first phase, competitors will be divided into four groups of four players. Each match in the double-elimination bracket will comprise two games of chess.

The top two players from each group will then advance to the single-elimination Playoffs stage. The Quarterfinals will feature four games per match and the Semifinals six games per match.

The final champion will be determined through best-of-three (BO3) sets, with up to ten games in total. The format also includes a separate 3rd-place match.

The Group Stage at the EWC 2025 Chess tournament will run across July 29th-30th. The Quarterfinals and Semifinals of the Playoffs will be played out on day three. The final day (August 1st) will be solely dedicated to the Grand Final and the 3rd-place match.

All games will be broadcast in English on the official EWC YouTube and Twitch channels. Moreover, fans can purchase venue tickets for the event via the designated website.

With chess growing more popular in the gaming and esports communities, several esports organisations have signed chess players ahead of the EWC. In addition, participation in the EWC Chess competition presents an opportunity to gain additional Club Points and increase an organisation’s chances of becoming the most winning team at the esports festival.

The first twelve slots for the chess tournament have already been assigned based on the Points Standings of the Champions Chess Tour (CCT) 2025. The tour includes two online events, the Chessable Masters from February 16th-21st and Leg 2 from May 18th-23rd.

With the conclusion of the CCT 2025, twelve high-profile chess players have joined the EWC 2025 lineup:

The remaining four slots will be allocated after the EWC Last Chance Qualifier, held in Riyadh from July 24th-26th.