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Sarin sole Indian to qualify for Esports World Cup through Last Chance Qualifier as Praggnanandhaa misses out
Nihal Sarin is set to represent Indian Esports organisation S8UL in chess' debut at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh. PTI
Nihal Sarin is set to feature in chess' debut at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh starting Tuesday, being the sole Indian to qualify via the Last Chance Qualifier that concluded on Sunday. Sarin advanced to the main event along with fellow Grandmasters Anish Giri, Javokhir Sindarov and Levon Aronian – who had won the Las Vegas leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour recently.
Sarin, however, isn't the only Indian competing in the Esports world cup, with former Indian No 1 Arjun Erigaisi having confirmed his place directly by finishing among the top-12 at the end of the Champions Chess Tour.
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Sarin becomes first to advance from the Last Chance Qualifier
Sarin confirmed his place in the Esports World Cup with back-to-back victories in the Last Chance Qualifier Playoffs – defeating Dutch GM Giri 1.5-0.5 and Russian GM Andrey Esipenko 2.5-1.5 in the winner's bracket, where he faces Uzbekistani GM Sindarov in the final.
Nihal Sarin gets to sign his key as a qualifier for the main event while Anish Giri and others are still battling it out for the remaining 3 spots! #EsportsWorldCup pic.twitter.com/X90O7cA5Am — chess24 (@chess24com) July 26, 2025
Giri and Aronian later had to grind it out in the lower bracket to confirm their place in the Finals; joining the Losers Bracket in Round 2, Giri defeated Ahmed Adly 2-1 which was followed by an Armageddon triumph over current Indian No 1 R Praggnanandhaa (1.5-1.5) and Freestyle Chess Las Vegas runner-up Hans Niemann. Praggnanandhaa and Niemann had topped Group C and D respectively earlier.
Aronian, meanwhile, had to defeat Yu Yangyi (1.5-0.5), Alexander Grischuk (2-0) and Esipenko (3-2) in order to confirm his place in the main event. The veteran Armenian-American GM had earlier topped Group A, finishing ahead of Indian GM Vidit Gujrathi – who failed to advance to the playoffs.
The action, however, isn't over in the playoffs, with Sarin set to face Sindarov and Aronian going up against Giri. The winners of the two matches face off in the Grand Final of the Last Chance Qualifier.
Sarin will be representing Indian esports organisation S8UL at the World Cup while Arjun will be playing for Gen.G.
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