Magnus Carlsen, the world’s number one grandmaster, won the inaugural online chess competition at the Esports World Cup, taking home $250,000. The tournament, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, includes chess among 25 popular games, with a total prize pool of around $70 million. Despite some controversy about chess's inclusion as an esport, it was emphasized as a widely played game. The competition format included group stages leading to playoffs, and Carlsen defeated Alireza Firouzja to win the title, demonstrating chess's adaptation to modern gaming formats.
"It's been an amazing show, unlike anything that I've seen so far," said Carlsen after lifting the EWC trophy, a gold coloured plate.
Chess's inclusion in this year's schedule at the Esports World Cup was somewhat controversial, but organizers argued it counted as an esport played by millions.
The EWC's total prize pot is around $70m and features competitors across 25 popular games, including esports giants like Call of Duty and League of Legends.
Carlsen, the world's number one grandmaster, won the inaugural online chess competition, taking home $250,000 and demonstrating the game's evolution in modern competitive settings.
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