Esports World Cup Final

Participants: 16 players.

Time Control:

Rapid games: 10 minutes; no increment.

System:

Stage 1—Group Phase: Four groups of four. Each match = two rapid games. The top two from each group advance.

Stage 2—Play-offs: Single-elimination bracket. Quarter-finals: 4 games per match Semi-finals: 6 games per match Grand Final: Best-of-3 sets (Set 1 & 2 = 4 games, Set 3 = 2 games if needed).

Scoring & Advancement:

In the group stage, a match victory (via game score or Armageddon) counts as one match win; two match wins secure qualification.

Playoffs are knockout; the winner of each match proceeds.

The Esports World Cup will run from 29 July to 1 August 2025 in Boulevard Riyadh City, 🇸🇦Riyadh, as part of the multi-game Esports World Cup festival. Backed by the Esports World Cup Foundation, ESL FACEIT Group, and Chess.com, the event replaces the traditional Champions Chess Tour Finals and serves as the season-ending rapid championship. Sixteen elite grandmasters—headed by Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana, and other tour leaders—will battle for a $1.5 million prize pool and vital club points for their esports organizations.