The 21-year-old Grandmaster was one of four players and the only
Indian to qualify for the EWC 2025 from LCQ
Chess at EWC 2025 features a prize pool of $1.5 million (approx.
INR 12.9 crore)
Indian Grandmaster Nihal Sarin, representing S8UL Esports, a
global powerhouse in esports and gaming content, has officially qualified for
the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025 following a spectacular performance in the
Chess Last Chance Qualifiers (LCQ). He was one of only four players and the
sole Indian to secure 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 showcased exceptional form in the group stage of the LCQ,
registering five wins and finishing with 5.5 points to secure a top-four finish
in Group B and advance to the playoffs. In the knockout rounds, he produced a
stunning turnaround against Belarus’ Denis Lazavik in the Round of 16,
delivering a checkmate in a lost position to clinch a 1.5 - 0.5 win. He
followed it up with another 1.5 - 0.5 victory against Dutch star Anish Giri in
the quarterfinals. Nihal then sealed qualification by defeating Russia’s Andrey
Esipenko 2.5 - 1.5 in the winners’ bracket, leveraging his world-class speed
chess prowess under pressure.
The 21-year-old’s performance is a testament to S8UL’s growing
influence in shaping the future of Indian esports on the global stage. As the
only Indian organization selected for the prestigious Club Partner Program by
the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF), S8UL is proudly representing the
country in titles like Apex Legends, EAFC, and now, Chess.
Speaking on his qualification, Nihal Sarin said, “I’m incredibly happy to have qualified for the Esports
World Cup 2025. The competition was intense, and the format really 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 currently ranked 8th in India and
37th in the world with a FIDE rating of 2692, joins 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 impressive 2025 season, which includes
a runner-up finish at the Asian Individual Chess Championship, where he secured
his spot at the men’s Chess World Cup, set to be held in India later this year.
He also clinched the Tashkent Open title earlier this year, 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 set to participate from
August 7 to 10. The organization’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 remarkable performance and teams competing across
multiple titles, S8UL is not only showcasing India’s esports talent globally
but also championing the rise of chess as a serious force in competitive gaming.
National, July 28, 2025
