Chess joins Paris Esports World Cup with $1.5 million prize as tournament eyes mainstream appeal
The 2026 Esports World Cup in Paris featured chess with a $1.5 million prize, showcasing top grandmasters and the event’s effort to broaden esports.
The Esports World Cup 2026 was shifted to Paris Expo Porte de Versailles after security concerns moved it from Riyadh, and it featured chess for the second consecutive year with a $1.5 million prize fund. Grandmasters Magnus Carlsen, Alireza Firouzja and India’s Arjun Erigaisi, Nihal Sarin, Aravindh Chithambaram and Pranesh M competed under the banners of Gen.G Esports and S8UL Esports. Mike McCabe, COO and Deputy CEO of the Esports Foundation, explained that a game qualifies as an esport when it has a robust competitive ecosystem, organized events, rankings and spectator appeal, regardless of its origins.
He highlighted chess’s multigenerational appeal, noting families attending together, and described the inclusion as a test of how far esports can stretch without losing a game’s identity. The tournament now boasts 24 titles, a record $75 million prize pool and sponsorship from Allianz, Hilton Hotels and Sony, while McCabe envisions future editions expanding to new games, formats and venues, aiming for esports stars to achieve fan recognition comparable to IPL cricketers in India.
Why it matters
It shows how traditional games like chess are being integrated into esports to attract broader audiences and new sponsorship.
In this story
