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ESPORTS WORLD CUP NEWS

With Ronaldo, Carlsen as its face, Esports World Cup returns for 3rd edition

July 09, 2026 8:15 pm

Ronaldo and Carlsen's return as Global Ambassadors highlights the EWC's growing role at the intersection of traditional sport, esports, and global culture.

Esports World Cup 2026 moved to Paris from Riyadh due to rising tensions in Middle East. (Reuters)

Esports World Cup 2026 moved from Saudi Arabia to France amid Middle East war escalation

May 21, 2026 11:57 am

EWC 2026 will now be held in the French capital, Paris, instead of Riyadh, the Saudi capital.

S8UL's Aravindh Chithambaram wins the Road to EWC Chess qualifiers at DreamHack Atlanta 2026. (Photo: S8UL)

Aravindh becomes 1st Indian chess player to qualify for Esports World Cup

May 18, 2026 3:30 pm

Alongside Aravindh, fellow S8UL Grandmasters Nihal Sarin and Pranesh M also remain in contention to qualify for the EWC 2026 Chess event.

S8UL announces signing of Grandmaster Pranesh M, reveals athlete roster for E-Sports World Cup

May 04, 2026 8:09 pm

Chess made its debut in the EWC last year and makes its return for the upcoming tournament where players will compete for a $1.5 million (Rs 14 crore) prize pool from August 11 to 15.

Magnus Carlsen, who recently won the Esports World Cup title in Riyadh, will be doing analysis on the chess tournament for AI models (Screengrab via Esports World Cup YouTube)

Following Esports World Cup debut in 2025, Chess to enter Esports Nations Cup 2026 in Riyadh

April 09, 2026 6:03 pm

The Esports Nation Cup is a country-based esports competition, set to take place in Riyadh from November 2 to 29, 2026.

FILE PHOTO - Indian GM Nihal Sarin in action for S8UL at the Esports World Cup Group Stage in 2025. (PHOTO: Special Arrangement)

India's S8UL and GodLike Esports selected for 2026 Esports Club Partner program as India emerge as key growth region

April 02, 2026 5:20 pm

Since its launch in 2023, the program has invested over $100 million (approx. INR 948 crore) into clubs worldwide,

India's R Praggnanandhaa thinks about his next move during a game in Tata Steel Chess India in Kolkata. (Express photo by Partha Paul)

Praggnanandhaa, 6 other top grandmasters issue urgent plea as 2026 chess calendar 'clash' turns concrete

February 11, 2026 6:15 pm

The letter speaks about ‘serious concern about the scheduling conflict between the 2026 Grand Chess Tour and the Esports World Cup chess events’.

Magnus Carlsen of Team Liquid and Team S8UL's Nihal Sarin in action during Esports World Cup 2025. (Team Liquid/X & Special Arrangement) Chess

Chess's future in Esports World Cup remains bright

January 28, 2026 11:13 pm

Chess is one of the 24 games at the 2026 Esports World Cup; "Chess is one of the games we believe helps us reach our goals, which extend beyond the endemic esports community," says Esports World Cup Foundation chief games officer Fabian Scheuermann.

Online gaming transactions of over Rs 13,000 crore are under the scanner of the tax authorities in this case, officials said.

Over 77% Indian esports players see streaming as key income path: YouGov poll

January 27, 2026 9:06 am

This is the first national-level survey undertaken after the esports sector gained clearer regulatory recognition following the passage of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025.

IOC cuts ties with Saudi Arabia over Olympic Esports Games partnership: Reasons behind fallout

October 31, 2025 4:31 pm

IOC and the Esports World Cup Foundation have also mutually agreed to end their partnership on the inaugural edition of the event, which was initially scheduled for 2027.