Chess has been confirmed for the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2027, marking its third consecutive appearance at the global esports competition. The tournament will return to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, bringing together some of the world's best chess players.
The announcement also sets up another title challenge for Norwegian Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen, who has won both previous editions and will aim to secure his third consecutive championship.
Chess Continues Its Esports World Cup Journey
Chess made its Esports World Cup debut in 2025 and returned for the 2026 edition. Its confirmation for 2027 further establishes the game as a regular part of the competition, connecting traditional chess audiences with the wider esports community.
Chess.com will once again partner with the Esports Foundation to determine the players who qualify for the upcoming tournament. The qualification process will take place through an upgraded Champions Chess Tour 2026–2027 cycle.
Magnus Carlsen Targets Third Consecutive Title
Carlsen enters the 2027 competition as the two-time defending champion. At the 2026 edition in Paris, he successfully retained his title by defeating 19-year-old Belarusian Grandmaster Denis Lazavik in the Grand Final.
Lazavik emerged as one of the tournament's biggest surprises after defeating Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Hikaru Nakamura during the knockout stages. However, Carlsen secured a 2-0 set victory in the final without dropping a single game.
Other players expected to attract attention during the 2027 competition include Hikaru Nakamura, Vincent Keymer, Wei Yi, Nihal Sarin, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Fabiano Caruana and Jan-Krzysztof Duda.
India Eyes Stronger Performance After Record 2026 Campaign
India will also be looking to build on its strongest-ever representation at the 2026 Esports World Cup chess competition. The country doubled its player contingent from the previous edition, with four Grandmasters representing India.
Nihal Sarin, Aravindh Chithambaram and Pranesh M competed under S8UL Esports, while Arjun Erigaisi represented Gen.G Esports. Both Nihal and Arjun advanced to the quarterfinals.
Indian representation also extended to the club level, with GodLike Esports selected as an EWC Club Partner. American Grandmaster Hans Moke Niemann represented the organisation in the chess competition.
With chess confirmed for a third consecutive year, India will look to improve on its 2026 performance when the world's leading players return to Riyadh in 2027.