EWC Chess 2026 to Take Place in Paris with $1.5 Million Prize Pool
Some of the world’s leading players will compete for the title, including reigning EWC Chess champion Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Arjun Erigaisi, Fabiano Caruana, and other prominent grandmasters. The field has expanded to 22 players this year, with the tournament featuring a Play-In stage, group stage, and playoffs.
Chess returns to the Esports World Cup for a second consecutive year. The tournament will be played in a rapid format, with each game using a 10-minute time control and no increment. Tied matches will be decided by an Armageddon game.
With a $1.5 million prize pool, EWC Chess 2026 ranks among the year’s biggest chess events by prize money. It is part of the Esports World Cup festival, which is being held in Paris for the first time after two editions in Riyadh.
