World No. 1 Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen clinched the first-ever Chess Esports World Cup title in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on August 1, 2025. Representing Team Liquid, Carlsen defeated Alireza Firouzja in the Grand Final to secure the $250,000 top prize and strengthen his team’s standing in the overall championship.

Key Points:

• Carlsen beat Firouzja with two consecutive 3–1 set wins in the Grand Final to claim the inaugural esports chess crown.
• In the semifinals, he edged past Hikaru Nakamura 4–3 after an intense Armageddon tiebreak, while Nakamura later defeated India’s Arjun Erigaisi for third place.
• The event used a fast-paced, 10-minute no-increment format, adding a new dimension to competitive chess gameplay.
• The chess segment had a total prize pool of $1.5 million, with Carlsen’s victory giving Team Liquid a crucial lead in the team standings.
• Carlsen praised the event as a groundbreaking moment for chess, highlighting the potential of esports in shaping the game’s future.