Paris hosts Esports World Cup chess as Magnus Carlsen secures title
Carlsen’s Dominant Performance in Paris
Magnus Carlsen, the world No. 1 from Norway, secured his second consecutive Esports World Cup chess title in Paris. The tournament, held over four days at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, saw Carlsen emerge victorious without a single loss throughout the event. He retained the title he previously won in Riyadh 2025.
Carlsen’s path to victory included a 1.5-0.5 win against Russia’s Andrey Esipenko and the US’s Hans Niemann in the group stage. He then defeated India’s Nihal Sarin 2.5-0.5 in the quarter-finals and France’s Alireza Firouzja 4-1 in the semi-finals. In the final, Carlsen faced Belarus’s Denis Lazavik, winning with two sets of 3-1.
The format of the tournament featured a rapid time limit, with each player allotted 10 minutes and no per-move increment. This setup often led to blunders, providing entertainment for the audience. Carlsen’s strategy focused on playing tight chess and capitalising on opportunities, which he stated contributed to his undefeated run.
Carlsen’s final game against Lazavik showcased a prepared line involving a positional queen sacrifice. He had noted that Lazavik had previously defended against this specific line. Despite an option for an early draw by perpetual check, Carlsen opted to continue the game, ultimately securing his win.
Lazavik’s Impressive Run and Other Tournament Highlights
Denis Lazavik, a 19-year-old from Minsk, was a notable performer at the event. Despite being ranked world No. 110 in classical chess, his blitz skills place him among the elite. Lazavik’s strong performances in previous online speed events continued in Paris, earning him a second-place prize of $190,000.
Carlsen acknowledged Lazavik’s solid play, stating, “He just doesn’t beat himself! He plays very solid positional chess and doesn’t put his pieces on bad squares.” Lazavik’s journey to the final included a quarter-final victory over Nodirbek Abdusattorov in an Armageddon tiebreaker.
In the match for third place, the US’s world No. 3, Hikaru Nakamura, defeated Alireza Firouzja. Nakamura had lost his semi-final match to Lazavik. Firouzja, who lost to Nakamura 3-1 in a six-game match, defaulted the fifth game due to technical internet issues experienced in game four. Firouzja has been involved in previous disputes with organisers, including a withdrawal from the Sinquefield Cup in St Louis.
The Esports World Cup chess tournament had a total prize pool of $1.5 million. Carlsen received $250,000 for his victory, while Nakamura secured $145,000 for third place. The event also saw India’s Arjun Erigaisi and Nihal Sarin reach the quarter-finals, each earning $75,000.
Beyond the Esports World Cup
While the Esports World Cup concluded, other significant chess events were also taking place. The Sinquefield Cup, a premier tournament, saw Wesley So (US) and Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu (India) tie with 5.5/9. After tie-break games, So became the first player to win the Sinquefield Cup three times.
The Cairns Cup for elite women featured China’s world title challenger Tan Zhongyi winning with 6.5/9. The US’s Alice Lee finished second with 6/9, achieving her first GM norm at the open level. Lee, at 16, has shown significant potential, previously winning the online chess.com Women’s Speed Championship, where she defeated reigning women’s world champion Ju Wenjun 9.5-3.5 in the quarter-finals and Hou Yifan 11.5-9.5 in the final.
In England, the annual Kingston upon Thames Invitational was in its fifth edition, reaching its closing rounds. The event, known for its free entry and attraction of both seasoned experts and aspiring juniors, saw Sweden’s Daniel Johnson lead after winning his first four games. The tournament has previously featured the longest Fide-rated game in chess history, spanning 272 moves.
Another major event in London, the Mind Sports Olympiad Rapid, attracted 16 GMs and 15 IMs, with France’s Maxime Lagarde as the top seed. The prize money for this event was £4,000.
Carlsen’s success at the Esports World Cup reinforces his position in competitive chess, particularly in rapid formats, as he continues to demonstrate his skill against a new generation of players, all of whom were born after the year 2000.
The Esports World Cup was held in Paris in August 2026.
Source: theguardian.com
Priya Menon 