Esports World Cup 2026 Chess Playoffs See Erigaisi, Niemann, Lazavik, and Nihal Advance

The group stage of the Esports World Cup in Paris concluded on Thursday, with Arjun Erigaisi, Hans Niemann, Denis Lazavik, and Nihal Sarin securing the final four spots in the chess playoffs. These players progressed through the losers brackets, joining earlier qualifiers Alireza Firouzja, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Magnus Carlsen, and Hikaru Nakamura. The quarterfinals will feature high-profile matchups, including Carlsen facing Nihal.