Magnus Carlsen secured victory in the inaugural online chess competition at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, winning $250,000. This controversial inclusion of chess in the EWC, which showcases various competitive games, was justified by organizers as chess has a vast player base. The tournament features a total prize pool of $70 million across 25 games. Carlsen, who faced Alireza Firouzja in the final, praised the event as a remarkable and groundbreaking show for chess within the esports realm, indicating a promising future for the game's inclusion in this competitive format.
"It's been an amazing show, unlike anything that I've seen so far," said Carlsen after lifting the EWC trophy, a gold coloured plate. "I really hope that this is just the beginning for chess in esports."
The inclusion of chess in this year's schedule was somewhat controversial, but the tournament's organisers argued it counted as an esport as it is played by millions of people of all ages.
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