Chess Is Coming to the 2025 Esports World Cup With a $1.5 Million Prize Pool

Chess is making its grand debut at the 2025 Esports World Cup next summer, boasting a staggering $1.5 million prize pool. Adding to the excitement, legendary Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen will serve as the game’s official ambassador.

The inclusion of chess marks a unique milestone for the Esports World Cup, blending one of the world’s oldest and most revered games with the fast-growing esports scene.

“This partnership is an incredible opportunity to grow the game, by introducing chess to new audiences and inspiring the next generation of players,” Carlsen said. “Being part of the esports family is an amazing opportunity for chess to broaden its reach to a massive group of esports fans.”

Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, shared his enthusiasm about the decision, calling it a “truly exciting moment.”

“It’s the perfect example of how games evolve: from boards to screens, the core competition stays the same. Chess’s rich history, global appeal, and thriving competitive scene make it a perfect fit for our mission to unite the world’s most popular games,” Reichert said.

The 2025 event comes as part of a collaboration with the Champions Chess Tour (CCT) and will serve as a qualification pathway for the finals set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Format-wise, matches will use the rapid 10+0 time control, where games last 10 minutes per player with no time increments. This format ensures a faster pace while keeping the strategic depth and precision that chess demands. “You will see in faster games, there will be a lot of swings, fast-paced actions,” Carlsen explained.