EWC 2026: Opening of the Chess Group in Paris
The group stage of EWC 2026 in Paris kicks off with Erigaisi vs. Sarin and Carlsen vs. Esipenko competing for a prize of $1.5 million.
The Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 of chess begins today with its group stage in Paris, featuring 16 players who will compete for the title and a share of the $1.5 million prize. In Group A, Arjun Erigaisi from Gen.G Esports and Nihal Sarin from S8UL Esports are highlighted as they face off in the opening match. Other competitors include Nodirbek Abdusattor (Natus Vincere), Pranesh M from S8UL Esports, Jan-Krzysztof Duda from Weibo Gaming, Benjamin Bok from Team MGD1, Alireza Firouzja from Team Falcons, and Wei Yi from Team Nemesis.
Erigaisi and Sarin will have a fully Indian clash, while Pranesh M faces Abdusattor. Duda will compete against Bok, and Firouzja will play against Wei Yi.
Carlsen Defends His Title
Group B welcomes the defending champion Magnus Carlsen from Team Liquid, who will face Andrey Esipenko from Virtus.pro. Hikaru Nakamura from Team Falcons will play against Alexey Sarana from Fnatic, and Hans Moke Niemann from GodLike Esports will compete against Ian Nepomniachtchi from Aurora Gaming. The group is completed by Denis Lazavik from AG.AL and Sina Movahed from Team Stallions, who will match up against each other.
The group stage will take place from August 12 to 13, with matches consisting of two games at a time control of 10 minutes without increment. In case of a tie, the Armageddon mode will be used as a tiebreaker. Players compete in a double elimination format, with the top four from each group advancing to the playoffs.
Schedule and Format of the Playoffs
The playoffs will be held from August 14 to 15 in a single elimination format. The quarter-finals consist of four games, the semi-finals six games, and the Grand Final will be decided in a best of three sets, each set consisting of four games with a potential third set of two games.
Shocking Exit of Chithambaram
The organizer also reported that Aravindh Chithambaram from S8UL Esports was eliminated during the Play-Ins, receiving a prize of $23,000. This detail highlights the intensity of the competition even from the early stages.
The duels and format influence the betting market due to the high quality of players and the prestige of the event.
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Renata Quiroga
Betting Markets Correspondent
Renata Quiroga covers sports betting and prediction markets — sportsbook launches, odds technology, event contracts, and the regulatory calls that decide what can be bet on and where. The reports open with the product or the ruling, name operators and platforms precisely, and explain the mechanics without needless jargon. When a book enters a Latin American market or a prediction exchange lists a contested contract, Renata Quiroga reports what changes for the bettor.
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