Magnus Carlsen defends title at Esports World Cup chess in Paris

The 2026 Esports World Cup chess tournament is set to take place in Paris at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles from August 11 to 15. Following the inaugural event in 2025, the tournament has moved from Riyadh to France due to international turbulence.

Magnus Carlsen enters the competition as the defending champion and clear favorite. The tournament features a high-stakes format with a total prize pool of $1.5 million, with the winner receiving $250,000. The competition utilizes a rapid format with 10 minutes per player and no time increment (10+0), a rule designed to increase speed and spectator engagement.

The field includes elite grandmasters such as Alireza Firouzja, Hikaru Nakamura, Hans Niemann, and Arjun Erigaisi. The event begins with a play-in round on August 11, followed by the main tournament phase.