Tournaments

Esports World Cup 2026

Esports World Cup 2026 · Playoffs

WinnerGMMagnus CarlsenBeat Denis Lazavik in the final
Dates
4–15 Aug 2026
Location
Paris, France
Format
8-player Knockout
Time control
10 min, no increment
About this event

Last Chance Qualifier

  • 8x 7-round Swiss + 16-player double elimination KO
  • Swiss: 1st place goes to Upper Bracket, 2nd place goes to Lower Bracket
  • KO: 2 games per match, except matches that decide a EWC Play-in spot are 4 games per match
  • Top 4 & winner of tiebreak match between 5th and 6th advance to Play-in

Play-in

  • 8-player double elimination KO
  • 2 games per match, armageddon tiebreak

Group Stage

  • 2x 8-player double elimination KO
  • 2 games per match, armageddon tiebreak
  • Top 4 from each stage advance to Playoffs
  • Upper Bracket Final and Lower Bracket Semifinal of each group are not played out

Playoffs

  • 8-player single elimination KO, armageddon tiebreak
  • Quarterfinals: 4 games per match, Semifinals & 3rd place match: 6 games per match
  • Grand Final: Best of 3 sets, 4/4/2 games in each set, armageddon tiebreak if any set tied

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

3rd Place Match

Grand Final

Quarterfinals
GMHikaru Nakamura27923
GMArjun Erigaisi27592

Hikaru Nakamura won 3–2

Games
G1GMH. NakamuravsGMA. Erigaisi½–½G2GMA. ErigaisivsGMH. Nakamura½–½G3GMH. NakamuravsGMA. Erigaisi½–½G4GMA. ErigaisivsGMH. Nakamura½–½G5GMH. NakamuravsGMA. Erigaisi1–0
Quarterfinals
GMNodirbek Abdusattorov27622
GMDenis Lazavik26213

Denis Lazavik won 3–2

Games
G1GMNodirbekvsGMD. Lazavik½–½G2GMD. LazavikvsGMNodirbek½–½G3GMNodirbekvsGMD. Lazavik½–½G4GMD. LazavikvsGMNodirbek½–½G5GMD. LazavikvsGMNodirbek1–0
Quarterfinals
GMMagnus Carlsen28232½
GMNihal Sarin2718½

Magnus Carlsen won 2½–½

Games
G1GMM. CarlsenvsGMN. Sarin1–0G2GMN. SarinvsGMM. Carlsen0–1G3GMM. CarlsenvsGMN. Sarin½–½
Quarterfinals
GMAlireza Firouzja27572½
GMHans Moke Niemann27251½

Alireza Firouzja won 2½–1½

Games
G1GMA. FirouzjavsGMH. Niemann1–0G2GMH. NiemannvsGMA. Firouzja½–½G3GMA. FirouzjavsGMH. Niemann½–½G4GMH. NiemannvsGMA. Firouzja½–½
Semifinals
GMHikaru Nakamura27921½
GMDenis Lazavik26213½

Denis Lazavik won 3½–1½

Games
G1GMH. NakamuravsGMD. Lazavik½–½G2GMD. LazavikvsGMH. Nakamura½–½G3GMH. NakamuravsGMD. Lazavik0–1G4GMD. LazavikvsGMH. Nakamura½–½G5GMH. NakamuravsGMD. Lazavik0–1
Semifinals
GMMagnus Carlsen28234
GMAlireza Firouzja27571

Magnus Carlsen won 4–1

Games
G1GMM. CarlsenvsGMA. Firouzja½–½G2GMA. FirouzjavsGMM. Carlsen½–½G3GMM. CarlsenvsGMA. Firouzja1–0G4GMA. FirouzjavsGMM. Carlsen0–1G5GMM. CarlsenvsGMA. Firouzja1–0
3rd Place Match
GMHikaru Nakamura27924
GMAlireza Firouzja27571

Hikaru Nakamura won 4–1

Games
G1GMH. NakamuravsGMA. Firouzja½–½G2GMA. FirouzjavsGMH. Nakamura0–1G3GMH. NakamuravsGMA. Firouzja½–½G4GMA. FirouzjavsGMH. Nakamura0–1G5GMH. NakamuravsGMA. Firouzja1–0
Grand Final
GMMagnus Carlsen28236
GMDenis Lazavik26212

Magnus Carlsen won 6–2

Games
G1GMM. CarlsenvsGMD. Lazavik1–0G2GMD. LazavikvsGMM. Carlsen½–½G3GMM. CarlsenvsGMD. Lazavik½–½G4GMD. LazavikvsGMM. Carlsen0–1G5GMD. LazavikvsGMM. Carlsen0–1G6GMM. CarlsenvsGMD. Lazavik½–½G7GMD. LazavikvsGMM. Carlsen½–½G8GMM. CarlsenvsGMD. Lazavik1–0