Magnus Carlsen, the world’s top grandmaster, has triumphed in the first-ever online chess competition at the Esports World Cup (EWC) held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The 34-year-old Norwegian will receive $250,000 (approximately £188,000) as the prize.
The EWC is one of the largest multi-discipline tournaments in professional gaming, hosting various events and showcasing popular games such as Call of Duty, Street Fighter, and League of Legends in addition to chess. Despite its controversial inclusion, chess is considered an esports game due to its widespread appeal among people of all ages.
This year’s EWC features a total prize pool of $70 million (£50 million) and spans over seven weeks, with teams from around the globe competing in different game categories.
The organizers of the EWC stated that chess reaching a new milestone in its 139-year history shown through its inclusion in the event. Competitors in the esports event sit on stage and play games while wearing heart-rate monitors, much like any other traditional sport, and there are large screens, prominent sponsors, and commentators.
Several grandmasters participated in the online chess competition, which involved a group stage followed by play-offs for the top-scoring players.
Ultimately, it was the world’s best traditional chess player, Magnus Carlsen, who emerged as the winner after defeating Alireza Firouzja, the eighth-ranked player.
Carlsen is known for embracing the modern aspects of the sport. In the past, he declared his return to a major chess competition after the governing body relaxed its dress code, allowing players to wear jeans. Initially, Carlsen had quit the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in New York as he was not allowed to play in jeans.
Expressing his satisfaction after receiving the EWC trophy, a gold-colored plate, Carlsen commented, “It’s been an amazing show, unlike anything I’ve ever seen. I really hope that this is a big part of the future for chess. Maybe we can get on a bigger stage next time” as the inclusion of chess at the event proved to be very popular.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce3jl1kgyv0o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
