ESPORTS WORLD CUP FOUNDATION (EWCF) has announced Chess as the latest of 16 titles to feature at the inaugural Esports Nations Cup 2026 (ENC), set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 2 to 29 November.
Schedule and format:
* The Chess tournament will begin on 2 November and conclude with the playoff final on 8 November.
* The opening phase will feature 128 players in a round-robin group stage, divided into 16 groups of eight.
* The top four players from each group will progress to the next stage.
* The second phase will see 64 players compete in a single-elimination playoff bracket.
* All group-stage matches will be best-of-two. Round of 64 and Round of 32 matches will also be best-of-two, while the quarter-finals onwards will be best-of-four.
* Armageddon games will be used as tie-breakers.
* All matches will be played in a rapid 10+0 time-control format.
Ranking system and qualifiers:
* A total of 128 players will represent their nations at ENC 2026. Of these, 64 players from 64 countries will receive direct invitations based on the official Champions Chess Tour (CCT) rankings. Another 56 players will qualify through regional events, while eight slots will be allocated via wildcards.
* Direct invitations will be determined using the official CCT rankings, with a limit of one player per nation. If 64 unique nations are not represented, results from the Titled Tuesday Spring Split will serve as an additional tie-breaker. The cut-off date for direct invites is 26 May.
* Each region will host two qualifiers on 6–7 June and 13–14 June. Every qualifier will feature a Swiss stage followed by a double-elimination phase, with four players advancing from each event. This will produce eight qualifiers per region.
* Qualifiers will be operated by Chess.com and held across the following regions: North America (8 slots), South America (8), Africa (8), Western Europe (8), Eastern Europe (8), Middle East + India + Central Asia (8), and East Asia + Southeast Asia + Oceania (8).
* Each nation can field up to two players at the event. If a country already has a direct invitee, only one additional player can qualify through the regional pathway. Nations without a direct invite can still send two players via the qualifiers.
Chess drew significant attention during its Esports World Cup debut in 2025, with several of the game’s biggest names battling in the playoffs. Magnus Carlsen of Norway claimed the inaugural title on behalf of Team Liquid. In total, 20 nations were represented across the main event and the Last Chance Qualifier in Riyadh, according to the media release.
ChessBase India co-founder and CEO Sagar Shah said, “I am very excited that the Esports Nations Cup is happening for the first time this year! In 2024 when the Chess Olympiad happened, it was such an exciting time for Indian chess. I am sure there will be a similar level of excitement in the Indian community for the Esports Nations Cup as well since they will be rooting for the nation and our top Indian players! I am really looking forward to it.”
