Chess Cements Position in Esports World Cup with Long-Term Commitment
The strategic board game of chess has firmly established its place in the digital competitive arena, with organizers of the Esports World Cup confirming its inclusion as one of the twenty-four featured games for the 2026 edition. This decision underscores a significant shift in how traditional games are being integrated into modern esports frameworks.
Beyond a One-Off Experiment
Contrary to being a temporary addition, chess is now viewed as a strategic long-term investment by the Esports World Cup Foundation. Mike McCabe, Deputy CEO of EWCF, emphasized this point during recent discussions, stating, "It definitely wasn't a one-and-done. It's something we're continuing to invest in, working with the chess community on how we can engage more deeply."
While viewership numbers for the chess tournament at the 2025 event in Riyadh didn't match those of more established esports titles, organizers were pleasantly surprised by its overall performance. McCabe explained, "The tournament exceeded our expectations on pretty much every level. When we look at the scale of the global digital chess community and its continued growth, from our perspective, it was worth the investment."
Strategic Expansion and Partnerships
Fabian Scheuermann, Chief Games Officer of the EWCF, revealed that the foundation is not merely continuing with chess but actively expanding its presence. "We ticked so many boxes that we're actually doubling down," Scheuermann noted. "Chess is one of the games we believe helps us reach our goals, which extend beyond the endemic esports community. Almost everyone can relate to chess in some way."
This commitment is further strengthened through an enhanced partnership with Chess.com, ensuring the platform's involvement for multiple years to come. The inclusion of global chess icon Magnus Carlsen in the 2025 edition proved to be a major attraction, demonstrating the sport's drawing power even in digital formats.
India's Growing Influence in Esports Landscape
The Esports World Cup Foundation has identified India as a crucial growth market, particularly through its Club Partner Program which provides financial stability and support to professional organizations. S8UL, a Mumbai-based esports organization, served as the sole Indian representative in the program during the inaugural 2025 edition, joining forty global partners.
This representation enabled Indian talent like Nihal Sarin to compete under their national banner in chess tournaments. McCabe expressed enthusiasm about the Indian market, stating, "What struck me personally, and the team more broadly, was the incredible passion of Indian fans and how vocal they were in supporting their clubs... It was amazing."
The foundation is currently evaluating applications for the 2026 Club Partner Program, with announcements expected in coming weeks. McCabe added, "Seeing the amount of social traffic and engagement with that narrative was something we were all very excited about. From our perspective, we see significant growth potential there."
Olympic Ambitions and Industry Collaboration
The growing prominence of esports has attracted attention from traditional sporting bodies, including the International Olympic Committee which had initially planned collaborative events with Saudi Arabia. While those talks dissolved in October 2025, the EWCF maintains a collaborative approach toward the broader ecosystem.
McCabe clarified the foundation's position: "We definitely see ourselves as a collaborator with everybody in the industry. Our goal is to build sustainability across the broader ecosystem, which we pursue through our club-based model in the EWC and our nation-based model in the Esports Nations Cup."
He further suggested potential future cooperation pathways, noting, "We've always believed there's a space for an annual nation-based event. That's why we run the Nations Cup every two years. The hope was that the Olympic Esports Games would run in opposite years."
With a confirmed $75 million prize pool for 2026 and chess secured as a permanent fixture, the Esports World Cup continues to redefine competitive gaming boundaries while strategically expanding into markets like India where digital engagement shows remarkable potential.
