Carlsen wins first Esports World Cup chess crown

1 Minute ReadWatch on Rediff-TV Listen to Article

August 02, 2025 04:43 IST

Magnus Carlsen

IMAGE: World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen bagged the $250,000 top prize and saw his Team Liquid sneak ahead in the overall championship after his win over Alireza Firouzja in Riyadh. Photograph: Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters

Norwegian Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen won the inaugural Esports World Cup chess tournament on Friday, defeating Alireza Firouzja in Riyadh.

World number one Carlsen claimed the $250,000 top prize and saw his Team Liquid sneak ahead in the overall championship after his win over Firouzja.

The prize pool of the tournament was $1.5 million.

"It’s been an amazing show, unlike anything I’ve ever seen," Carlsen said just before lifting the trophy on stage, with pyrotechnics lighting up behind him.

The inclusion of the centuries-old board game in the esports tournament comes after it experienced a significant revival during the pandemic.

Source:

© Copyright 2025 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.