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News18
a day ago
- Sport
- News18
Nihal Sarin Qualifies For Esports World Cup 2025 With Brilliant Performance In Last Chance Qualifiers
Last Updated: Indian Grandmaster Nihal Sarin, representing S8UL Esports, has qualified for the Esports World Cup 2025 after a stellar performance in Chess Last Chance Qualifiers. Indian Grandmaster Nihal Sarin, representing S8UL Esports, a global powerhouse in esports and gaming content, has qualified for the Esports World Cup 2025 after a spectacular performance in the Chess Last Chance Qualifiers. Nihal was one of just four players and the only Indian to bag his spot at the global tournament through the LCQ, which completes the 16-player roster for the EWC group stage kicking off July 29 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Nihal showed brilliant form in the group stage of the LCQ, registering five victories and finishing with 5.5 points to bag a top-four finish in Group B and advance to the playoffs. In the knockouts, he produced a brilliant turnaround against Belarus' Denis Lazavik in the Round of 16, delivering a checkmate in a lost position to clinch a 1.5 – 0.5 victory. Nihal followed it up with another 1.5 – 0.5 win against Dutch star Anish Giri in the quarters. He then sealed qualification by beating Russia's Andrey Esipenko 2.5 – 1.5 in the winners' bracket, leveraging his world-class speed chess prowess under pressure. Nihal's performance is a testament to S8UL's growing influence in shaping the future of Indian esports on the global stage. As the sole Indian organisation selected for the prestigious Club Partner Program by the Esports World Cup Foundation, S8UL is representing India in titles like Apex Legends, EAFC and now, Chess. Speaking on his qualification, Nihal said, 'I'm incredibly happy to have qualified for the Esports World Cup 2025. The competition was intense, and the format tested every aspect of my game. I'm thankful to S8UL for believing in me and backing me on this journey. Their constant support gave me the confidence to push through tough moments. I am now looking forward to making the country proud on the main stage." Hailing from Thrissur, Nihal is ranked 8th in India and 37th in the world with a FIDE rating of 2692, joining 15 of the world's top chess players, including Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Alireza Firouzja and fellow Indian Arjun Erigaisi, at the EWC main event. The competition features a prize pool of $1.5 million (approx. INR 12.9 crore) and will follow a rapid 10+0 time control format. The group stage will see four groups of four players, with the top two from each advancing to the single-elimination playoffs. The Grand Final will be played as a best-of-three sets. This result adds to Nihal's brilliant 2025 season, which includes a runner-up finish at the Asian Individual Chess Championship, where he bagged his spot at the men's Chess World Cup, all set to be held in India later this year. Nihal clinched the Tashkent Open title earlier this year as well, remaining unbeaten throughout the tournament. At EWC 2025, S8UL's Apex Legends team competed in the grand finals, while EAFC athlete Jonas Wirth (Jonny) is all set to participate from August 7 to 10. The organisation's other EAFC representative, Aaron Rivera (Happy), will aim to qualify through the Play-Ins. Meanwhile, Tekken 8 athletes Arja Gamoori (Sephiblack) and Nino Schwarz (Nino) will be vying for qualification in the LCQ from August 7 to 9. With Nihal's brilliant performance and teams competing across several titles, S8UL is not just showing India's esports talent but championing the rise of chess as a serious force in competitive gaming. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Nihal Sarin qualifies for Esports World Cup 2025 through Last Chance Qualifier, joins Arjun Erigaisi in the main event
GM Nihal Sarin became only the second Indian after Arjun Erigaisi to qualify for the Esports World Cup (2025) happening in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh. After failing to qualify at EWC through the two qualifiers, Nihal had to play through the Last Chance Qualifier in Riyadh, where he reached the finals of the Winner's Bracket after beating Russia's Andrey Esipenko, thus qualifying for the main event. Apart from Nihal, Anish Giri, Javokhir Sindarov and Levon Aronian also qualified for the EWC to complete the 16-player field for the main event. Nihal, representing Indian esports organisation S8UL, will now take on Sindarov in the final of the LCQ. GM R. Praggnanandhaa came agonisingly close to qualifying for the EWC but Anish Giri handed him a tough loss in the Armageddon in their match-up. Earlier, 12 players were finalised in the EWC roster for chess through the two-leg Champions Chess Tour 2025. Five-time world champion and world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, world No. 3 and popular Twitch and YouTube streamer Hikaru Nakamura and reigning co-world blitz champion Ian Nepomniachtchi qualified for EWC after finishing in the top three of CCT's first event, the Chessable Masters, which was played in February. Nine other players, including Arjun confirmed their spots through the second leg of CCT, the Classic 2025. The Esports World Cup brings together top esports clubs across 24 popular titles. EWC 2025 is happening in Riyadh from July 7 to August 24, featuring chess as an online event for the first time. The inaugural 2024 edition spanned eight weeks, while the 2025 event will be history's largest multi-title esports tournament with 2,000+ players, 200+ teams, and a $70 million (≈₹602 crore) prize pool.
Indian Express
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
All you need to know about Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ), the final qualification path for chess at Esports World Cup 2025
The 'Last Chance Qualifier' LCQ — the final qualification path for chess at the Esports World Cup (EWC) — has been announced recently, as the Dreamhack Dallas 2025 event will act as the LCQ, filling up the last four spots for the EWC 2025. The DreamHack festival, set to happen from May 23 to 23 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Centre in Dallas, is an open-to-all event where any professional or amateur player can participate and confirm their spot for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's capital city, where the EWC 2025 will take place. Earlier, 12 players were finalised in the EWC roster for chess through the two-leg Champions Chess Tour 2025. Five-time world champion and world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, world No. 3 and popular Twitch and YouTube streamer Hikaru Nakamura and reigning co-world blitz champion Ian Nepomniachtchi qualified for EWC after finishing in the top three of CCT's first event, the Chessable Masters, which was played in February. Nine other players, including India's Arjun Erigaisi — the only player from this country — confirmed their spots through the second leg of CCT, the Classic 2025. R. Praggnanandhaa missed out on qualification just by a whisker, and alongside him, players like Aravindh Chithambaram and Nihal Sarin — both of whom signed with an Indian Esports organisation, S8UL — and current world champion D. Gukesh might try their luck to qualify for the lucrative EWC through the LCQ. The EWC will offer prize money of $1.5 million (12.8 cr) with a time control set to be 10 minutes for the entire game with no increment(10+0). What is the Esports World Cup? The Esports World Cup brings together top esports clubs across 24 popular titles. EWC 2025 will run in Riyadh from July 7 to August 24, featuring chess as an online event for the first time. The inaugural 2024 edition spanned eight weeks, while the 2025 event will be history's largest multi-title esports tournament with 2,000+ players, 200+ teams, and a $70 million (≈₹602 crore) prize pool. How can one register and participate in LCQ?
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Pato O'Ward doesn't mince words after Newgarden, Power out of Fast 12 Indianapolis 500 qualifying
INDIANAPOLIS — Pato O'Ward will have his first unobstructed view coming across the bricks when the green flag drops Sunday for the 109th Indianapolis 500 as, unlike last year, there will be nobody from Team Penske out front, or in the second or third rows. And, O'Ward said, they shouldn't be in the fourth row, either. Josef Newgarden's No. 2 failed the qualifying tech inspection and Will Power's No. 12, which passed with the same modification, was pulled back by Penske, team president Tim Cindric said. Neither ran in Fast 12, which means two-time reigning champion Newgarden will start 11th and 2018 champion Power in 12th as decided by Saturday's qualifying times. Advertisement That Newgarden was caught with a body fit violation on the rear attenuator, and Power had the same outfit, leads to questions about Saturday's qualifying rounds, O'Ward said. "They weren't accidentally doing it because they had the blowtorch right there in order to get it out," he said. "Honestly, I feel for Abel and for everybody that did the disqualifications or the last chance qualifying. Those cars weren't in regulations. Doyel: IndyCar rookie Robert Shwartzman wins Indy 500 pole, Team Penske gets busted again "I'm not an engineer, so I can't tell you what they were doing, how much speed that it is or if it is any speed. Obviously it's not in regulation. The rule is pretty black and white. Those cars should have been in the last chance qualifier. Like, those cars should have never — obviously they didn't do anything in the Fast 12, but they should have been brought into the LCQ because they had that yesterday, I guarantee you. Until someone pointed it out today. Those cars, if they're disqualified today, they should have been disqualified yesterday. Advertisement "It's a shame really because they don't need to be doing that stuff. They're a great team. They have got great drivers. Why are doing that? It makes no sense." O'Ward will start third after running his four-lap Fast 6 qualifying in 232.098 mph. With cooler track temperatures Saturday, Newgarden sat third in 233.004 mph Power sat 10th in 232.144 mph. Get IndyStar's motorsports coverage sent directly to your inbox with the Motorsports newsletter. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pato O'Ward on Penske's Josef Newgarden, Will Power Indy 500 qualifying
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Pato O'Ward: Penske cars should have been sent to LCQ after rules breach
After qualifying third for the this year's Indianapolis 500, Arrow McLaren's Pato O'Ward met with the media to discuss his strong showing. But when asked about the technical violation involving Team Penske's two remaining cars in Fast 12 qualifying, he did not hold back. IndyCar officials found something amiss with the rear attenuator on Josef Newgarden's No. 2 Chevrolet. Will Power's No. 12 Chevrolet had the same issue, but was already sitting in the pit lane. Penske decided to work on the cars, believing they could rectify the problem and still qualify without issue, but that was not the case. Advertisement In the end, both cars were pulled out of line and took no further part in qualifying. They, along with Scott McLaughlin who crashed heavily in Sunday morning practice, will share Row 4 (10th - 12th) on the grid. But O'Ward thinks the immediate punishment should have been far more severe. Patricio O'ward, Arrow McLaren Patricio O'ward, Arrow McLaren Penske Entertainment Penske Entertainment "They weren't accidentally doing it because they had the blowtorch right there in order to get it out," said O'Ward. "Honestly, I feel for [Jacob] Abel and for everybody that did the disqualifications or the last chance qualifying. Those (Penske) cars weren't in regulations." Advertisement Rookie Jacob Abel was the lone driver who failed to qualify for the Indy 500, losing out in the LCQ to Rinus VeeKay, Marcus Armstrong, and Marco Andretti. Meanwhile, all three Penske cars were fast enough for the Fast 12 via their efforts on Saturday. "I'm not an engineer, so I can't tell you what they were doing, how much speed that it is or if it is any speed," continued O'Ward. "Obviously it's not in regulation. The rule is pretty black and white. Those cars should have been in the last chance qualifier. Like, those cars should have never -- obviously they didn't do anything in the Fast 12, but they should have been brought into the LCQ because they had that yesterday, I guarantee you. Until someone pointed it out today. Those cars, if they're disqualified today, they should have been disqualified yesterday. "It's a shame really because they don't need to be doing that stuff. They're a great team. They have got great drivers. Why are doing that? It makes no sense." Read Also: Penske won't have a shot at the Indy 500 pole after inspection issue Rookie Robert Shwartzman earns shock Indy 500 pole with Prema Racing Jacob Abel fails to qualify for Indy 500 in teammate battle over last spot To read more articles visit our website.
