Esports World Cup Last Chance Qualifier: Praggnanandhaa and Nihal advance to the Playoffs

by Shahid Ahmed - 26/07/2025

Chess is evolving. It is no longer just played over-the-board and in person anymore. The online chess takes a huge shape at Esports World Cup 2025. The total prize fund allotted for chess is US$ 1.5 Million. Arjun Erigaisi became the first Indian to quality to the main event of Esports World Cup back in May. 12 spots are already filled. Various players all over the world battled in the Last Chance Qualifier. Levon Aronian (Team Reject), Oleksandr Bortnyk (NAVI), R Praggnanandhaa (Team Liquid) and Hans Niemann (Team M80) have topped their respective A, B, C and D groups. They will be joined the remaining top four finishers of each group to play in the double elimination Playoff stage. The last four players standings at the end of the Playoff, will advance to the main event. Photo: Aditya Sur Roy

Aronian, Bortnyk, Praggnanandhaa and Niemann top group stage

The Esports World Cup is currently being held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 8th July to 24th August 2025. For the first time chess has been included in it. It has a prize fund of US$1.5 Million. The Last Chance Qualifier is running from 24th to 26th July with a prize fund of $50000. The event was open to all. The games are played online on chess.com but in person at Boulevard City with a time control of 10 minutes with no increment. The qualifiers took place in two-day group stage on 24th and 25th July. Group A and B games were played on 24th, Group C and D games were played on 25th. From each group the top four finishers have advanced to the Playoffs, a 16-player double elimination knockout that will take place today, Saturday 26th July 2025. The four players at the end of the KO stage will secure a place in next week's main event.

Group A topper: Levon Aronian (Team Reject)

Group A topper: GM Levon Aronian (Team Reject) 5.5/7

For more Group A photos, please click here.

Group B topper: Oleksandr Bortnyk (NAVI)

Group B topper: GM Oleksandr Bortnyk (NAVI) 6/7

Second Runner-up - GM Nihal Sarin (S8UL) 5.5/7

For more Group B photos, please click here.

Group C topper: R Praggnanandhaa (Team Liquid)

Group C topper: R Praggnanandhaa (Team Liquid) 6/7

For more Group C photos, please click here.

Group D topper: Hans Niemann (Team M80)

Group D topper: GM Hans Niemann (Team M80) 6/7

For more Group D photos, please click here.

The playing arena at Boulevard city in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Last Chance Qualifier total prize fund | Graphic: chess.com

Video Gallery

Replay all Group A games

Replay all Group B games

Replay all Group C games

Replay all Group D games

Links

Official site

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