Courtesy: Google
Popular esports organization Gen.G Esports signed Indian chess grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi ahead of the highly anticipated Esports World Cup (ECW) 2025, which is set to be played in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July to August. To qualify for the ECW, players need to compete in the Champions Chess Tour 2025 and Chessable Masters.
Gen.G Signs Arjun Erigaisi
21-year-old Arjun Erigaisi is the world's number four chess player and will represent the Gen.G Esports in the Esports World Cup 2025. Born on September 3, 2003, in Warangal, Telangana, Arjun earned the title of grandmaster at the age of 14 and became the top-rated player from India in September 2024. Additionally, with a peak rating of 2801 in December 2024, the Telangana boy becomes the 15th highest-rated player in history.
On December 17, 2024, the Esports World Cup Foundation announced a partnership with Chess.com to bring one of the world's most popular strategy games to the Esports World Cup 2025.
Esports organizations like TSM, OpTic, and others have even signed chess pros like Hikaru Nakamura and the Botez sisters to their rosters amid the exploding popularity of online chess competitions.
Magnus Carlsen, who is regarded as one of the greatest chess players in history, joins Chess at the Esports World Cup as an ambassador to help connect chess with the broader esports community.
Esports World Cup 2025 Chess Format
Chess at the EWC will be played in a rapid 10+0 chess format. That means competitors will have 10 minutes on the clock with no opportunity for additional time.
Twelve players hoping to compete at the EWC will qualify through the Champions Chess Tour, which will host two online tour events in February and May of 2025. A final Last Chance Qualifier will take place in Riyadh to select the final four competitors.
