Norwegian chess champion Magnus Carlsen added another milestone to his career on Saturday in Paris, where he successfully defended the Esports World Cup (EWC) title. The 35‑year‑old Grandmaster entered the tournament as the overwhelming favorite after winning the inaugural event last year, and he lived up to expectations by finishing the competition unbeaten.
Carlsen’s performance was flawless: he recorded 11 wins and nine draws, never losing a single game. The victory secured a $250,000 first‑place prize and contributed a vital 1,000 Club Championship points to his team, Team Liquid. The American esports organization now sits 13th overall with a total of 1,200 points.
Dominance Rooted in Experience
Carlsen’s dominance is underscored by his 15‑year reign as the world’s top‑ranked chess player, the longest streak in modern FIDE history. While he has stepped away from the classical world championship cycle—relinquishing his title in 2023 because he felt “not motivated to play”—he remains a formidable force in any format he chooses.
When asked about his mindset heading into the tournament, Carlsen told CNN Sports, “I don’t think too much about expecting to win. You just want to do the right things and take it step by step… which is a very boring answer, but that’s a little bit how it is.” He added that his confidence stems from knowing his own capabilities, noting that winning is “a likely scenario” when he competes.
Community Reaction
Chess influencer and Woman Grandmaster Nemo Zhou, who served as a commentator at the Paris event, praised Carlsen without hesitation: “Magnus Carlsen is undoubtedly the GOAT. Specifically mine, I would say yes – absolutely. There is nobody stronger in the history of the game.”
The EWC’s format differs markedly from traditional over‑the‑board play. Matches are played with a “10+0” time control—each player has ten minutes for the entire game with no increment—producing fast‑paced, spectator‑friendly contests that sit comfortably alongside titles such as League of Legends, Call of Duty Warzone, and Fortnite.
Growth of Chess in Esports
Chess’s migration to the esports arena reflects a broader shift toward shorter, online formats. Chess.com reported that the 2025 EWC attracted just under 260,000 concurrent peak viewers, making it the most‑watched chess event of that year and surpassing long‑standing tournaments like Norway Chess and Tata Steel.
The prize pool for the EWC remains $1.5 million, the second‑largest in chess after the $2 million FIDE World Cup. However, the World Cup’s pool is divided among 206 participants, whereas the EWC’s $1.5 million is split among just 16 players, highlighting the event’s concentrated financial stakes.
Carlsen acknowledged both the potential and the limitations of the esports format, noting that while chess has “a lot of potential,” it sometimes lacks the “wow factor” of other games. He expressed satisfaction with recent progress, stating, “I’m really happy with the way things have gone the last few years. Chess is always going to be a game that a lot of people have some kind of relationship to. Even if they don’t play a lot, (don’t) know the rules, or just know some rules, everybody kind of knows something about chess. We’re always going to have that advantage.”
Looking Ahead
With the 2027 Esports World Cup on the horizon, Carlsen will aim for a third consecutive title. Given his unbeaten record at the event and his reputation as the sport’s preeminent player, opponents will face a steep challenge.
The continued success of the EWC underscores the growing appeal of chess in the digital age, offering a bridge between a centuries‑old tradition and the fast‑moving world of competitive gaming.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
