The ancient game of chess is embarking on a fascinating new chapter, venturing into the dynamic world of competitive esports. In July 2025, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will host the inaugural eSports World Cup featuring chess, a move that signals the sport`s continued evolution and increasing digital presence. Naturally, India, a hotbed of chess talent, is right at the forefront of this development.
Among the pioneers embracing this new frontier is India`s highly-rated classical player, Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi. Recognizing the significance of the event and the opportunity to integrate traditional chess prowess with digital speed, top esports organizations are actively recruiting. Erigaisi has been signed by Gen G eSports, joining the ranks aiming for one of the coveted 16 spots in the final tournament set to take place from July 31 to August 3, where players will compete for a substantial $1.5 million prize pool.
Erigaisi isn`t the only notable name making the leap; 2024 World Rapid Champion Volodar Murzin has also been acquired by AG Global. While a final list is pending, Erigaisi himself believes there`s a strong possibility that even the titans of modern chess, such as Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura, will participate, drawn by the unique challenge and exposure.
Conversations with these very top players, Carlsen and Nakamura, played a role in Erigaisi`s decision to explore the eSports World Cup circuit. Qualification for the tournament will primarily occur through the 2025 Champions Chess Tour, offering 12 direct spots to Riyadh, with a final four places available via a last-chance qualifier just prior to the main event.
Several factors made the eSports World Cup an appealing prospect for Erigaisi. The format itself is novel: games will feature a unique time control of ten minutes total per player, with no increment added at any point. This differs significantly from standard over-the-board classical or even rapid chess, where increments are common. Erigaisi admits he`s generally not fond of no-increment games in live play due to the potential for time-scramble chaos, but the online nature of the eSports event changes the equation. Since pieces won`t be literally falling off the board in the final seconds, he`s willing to give it a shot.
This format introduces an interesting variable: proficiency with a mouse. Beyond raw chess skill, the speed and precision of executing moves digitally will become a tangible factor. As Erigaisi himself put it, “I am decent with the mouse, but that is one thing I need to train at to become even faster.” Despite the initial time allocation, he hesitates to label this format as `rapid,` opting for the more descriptive, perhaps slightly wry, term `slow blitz.`
He also acknowledged his historical performance trends, stating, “It is a fact that I have performed better in classical and blitz compared to rapid, in general. But the world rapid went pretty well, that`s also a point that makes me feel I`m getting better at this.”
The opportunity to potentially visit Saudi Arabia, a country he hasn`t been to before, was another minor, yet positive, consideration. Crucially, the tournament`s structure is compact; if he qualifies for the final phase, it`s a mere four-day event. This minimal time commitment is vital, as it concludes more than a month before the FIDE Grand Swiss, the first major qualification tournament for the next Candidates cycle, is scheduled to begin.
Indeed, despite his willingness to experiment and adapt to new competitive landscapes, Erigaisi`s strategic focus for 2025 remains crystal clear and firmly rooted in traditional chess aspirations. His primary objective is to qualify for the 2026 Candidates Tournament, the gateway to challenging the World Champion (currently Dommaraju Gukesh). He narrowly missed a qualification spot via the FIDE Circuit last year, but with seven spots still available – primarily through events like the Grand Swiss and the FIDE World Cup later in 2025 – his chances are significant.
His start to the year saw struggles at the Tata Steel Chess Masters, impacting his rating, though he finished with impressive wins against top players like Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Gukesh himself. Acknowledging the setback, he stated, “Of course, it`s a very bad start to the year, but it`s a very important year in terms of qualification for the Candidates.”
“I`m confident of qualifying if I play at my best,” he continued, emphasizing the time he has before the critical Grand Swiss in September. “First my focus is to play well and do well in whatever tournaments that I play in. If I maintain my rating, even if I miss out on the other spots, I can get in to the Candidates through my rating.”
His rating has dipped slightly from its peak near the 2800 mark following the Tata Steel performance, but Erigaisi has a proven track record of resilience and the ability to defeat the world`s best players. The eSports World Cup offers him a new, potentially high-profile stage to showcase his skills, including that refined mouse speed. His open-mindedness towards integrating with the esports world is certainly a positive sign for chess`s ambition to grow as a truly global and modern sport. Yet, amidst these innovative experiments and digital challenges, Arjun Erigaisi`s gaze remains steadfastly fixed on the ultimate, classical prize: the World Championship crown.
