Magnus Carlsen has claimed yet another piece of chess history, capturing the first-ever Chess Esports World Cup title with a dominant victory over Team Falcons’ Alireza Firouzja in Riyadh.
The Norwegian superstar took home $250,000 and 1,000 Club Championship points for Team Liquid, powering them into contention for the overall EWC title.
From the opening set, it was clear that the world’s number one was in complete control. Carlsen stormed to a 3-1 scoreline, notching a win and two draws to seize a commanding lead.
Firouzja fought back with a dramatic win in the second set’s opener—capitalizing on a rare Carlsen blunder—but that was as close as the French-Iranian grandmaster would get.
The composure and calculation that have defined Carlsen’s career shone through as he quickly punished Firouzja’s weak openings in the final two games.
The match ended 2-0 in sets (4 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss overall), sealing the title and showcasing the gulf between the world No. 3 blitz player and the sport’s reigning king.
Carlsen’s triumph came with trademark swagger. After defeating Falcons’ Hikaru Nakamura in the semifinals, he famously declared, “I’ve got my bow and arrow ready. I’ve shot one Falcon, I want to shoot one more tomorrow.” True to his word, Carlsen skewered his second Falcon in the final, living up to his confident pre-tournament claim that Team Falcons would “need to win in other games, because you’re not going to win chess.”
Earlier in the day, Nakamura edged Arjun Erigaisi in a thrilling six-game playoff to secure third place and $145,000. Despite a strong showing, Team Falcons couldn’t secure the elusive top finish needed to claim the Club Championship lead, though Firouzja’s second-place run and 750 points keep them firmly in the mix. Erigaisi’s fourth-place finish netted 300 points for Gen.G and a $115,000 payday.
What’s next at EWC 2025?
With Magnus Carlsen adding esports gold to his legendary résumé, the Esports World Cup shifts gears toward its next major spectacle: the Overwatch Champion Series. The world’s top teams are set to clash in a high-stakes showdown packed with tactical brilliance, clutch ultimates, and crowd-roaring plays.
