The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has announced that chess will be included as one of 16 titles at the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026, scheduled to be held in Riyadh from November 2 to 29. The chess competition will run from November 2 to 8 and feature 128 players representing their respective nations.
According to the organisers, the tournament will begin with a group stage comprising 16 groups of eight players each in a round-robin format. The top four players from each group will progress to a 64-player single-elimination playoff bracket. Group-stage and early playoff matches will follow a best-of-two format, while quarterfinals onwards will be best-of-four. Armageddon games will serve as tie-breakers, and all matches will be played under a rapid 10+0 time control.
Of the 128 participants, 64 players from 64 nations will receive direct invitations based on Champions Chess Tour (CCT) rankings, with a limit of one player per nation. An additional 56 players will qualify through regional online qualifiers, and eight spots will be allocated as wildcards. Regional qualifiers, operated by Chess.com, will be held in June across seven global regions, including North America, Europe, Africa, and a combined Middle East–India–Central Asia region.
EWCF said each nation can have up to two representatives in the event, depending on qualification pathways.
Chess previously featured at the Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh, where Magnus Carlsen won the title, and players from 20 nations participated across events.
Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi said he looks forward to competing in the national team format, while ChessBase India CEO Sagar Shah and commentator Tania Sachdev also welcomed the inclusion of chess in a nation-based esports competition.
Further details about the Esports Nations Cup are expected in the coming weeks, organisers said.