Nihal Sarin qualifies for Esports World Cup Chess event

Indian Grandmaster Nihal Sarin has qualified for the Esports World Cup chess event in Paris through the Champions Chess Tour leaderboard. He joins Aravindh Chithambaram as the second Indian participant in the tournament featuring top global chess players.

By Neelima

Mumbai: Indian Grandmaster Nihal Sarin, representing esports and gaming content organisation S8UL, has qualified for the chess event of the upcoming Esports World Cup (EWC) in Paris. The qualification was secured through the Champions Chess Tour (CCT) leaderboard.

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Sarin joins teammate Aravindh Chithambaram, becoming only the second Indian player to qualify for the prestigious tournament so far. This marks a significant milestone for Indian chess on the international esports stage.

The EWC chess competition this year carries a prize pool of USD 1.5 million (approximately Rs 14.3 crore). The event is scheduled to take place from August 11 to 15, drawing top chess talent from around the world.

The Esports World Cup itself is one of the largest gaming events on the global calendar. The tournament is set to run from July 6 to August 23 in Paris, featuring over 2,000 players from 200 clubs across more than 100 countries. This year’s edition boasts a record-breaking total prize pool of USD 75 million (Rs 718 crore), underlining the growing scale and commercial importance of competitive esports worldwide.

Sarin’s qualification through the CCT leaderboard reflects his consistent performances across the Champions Chess Tour. S8UL, the organisation backing both Sarin and Chithambaram, has been expanding its presence in competitive chess alongside its broader esports activities.

With two Indian representatives now confirmed for the EWC chess event, India’s participation adds to the country’s growing presence in global competitive chess. Further qualifications from the CCT leaderboard are expected as the tournament draws closer.