Magnus Carlsen is the star at Esports World Cup, but Indian challenge strong
Magnus Carlsen, the reigning chess world champion, is set to headline the 2026 Esports World Cup (EWC) in Paris. This marks Carlsen's return to the EWC after dominating the inaugural event last year. He will be joined by a strong Indian contingent, including Nihal Sarin, Aravindh Chithambaram, Pranesh M, and Arjun Erigaisi, all representing Team S8UL.
Carlsen, known for his prowess in various chess formats, will face his usual rival, American grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura, in the tournament. India's presence at the EWC adds a new dimension to the competition, with four players participating for the first time. The event will follow a new two-phase format, expanding the field to 22 players from the previous 16.
The first phase, the Play-In stage, will determine the top eight who advance to the Group Stage, culminating in a single-elimination playoff for the championship.
Written by urgent.news from The Indian Express's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
