In brief
In a remarkable turn of events at the Esports World Cup (EWC) hosted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Magnus Carlsen, the world's top-rated chess grandmaster, emerged victorious in the first-ever online chess competition, earning a prize of $250,000 (approximately £188,000). The EWC, a leading multi-discipline tournament in professional gaming, has sparked debate over the inclusion of chess in its lineup, but organizers defended the decision highlighting the game's vast global appeal.
The second edition of the EWC boasts a staggering prize pot of approximately $70 million (£50 million) and features seven weeks of competition across 25 popular gaming titles, such as Call of Duty and League of Legends. The tournament's inclusion of chess represents a significant advancement for the centuries-old game, now 139 years after the first World Chess Championship took place. At the event, players showcased their skills onstage in front of an audience, equipped with heart-rate monitors to mimic the intensity of physical sports. The competition structure saw grandmasters like Carlsen progress through group stages before advancing to playoffs. Carlsen triumphed over number 8-ranked Alireza Firouzja to clinch the title, demonstrating his ability to adapt to modern developments in chess. This year marks a departure from traditional norms, as Carlsen previously withdrew from a different championship due to a dress code controversy concerning jeans. Reflecting on his win, Carlsen expressed optimism about the future of chess within esports and hopes the game can reach larger audiences as it grows in popularity. Esports World Cup: An indispensable event for competitive teamsCarlsen’s anticipated participation in future chess championships following the dress code revision. The ongoing debate around integrity and fairness in the chess community.
