Magnus Carlsen Retains Esports World Cup Chess Crown in Unbeaten Campaign
World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen successfully defended his Esports World Cup chess title after completing an unbeaten campaign with a commanding 2-0 victory over Belarusian grandmaster Denis Lazavik in Saturday’s final.
Representing Team Liquid, Carlsen won both sets 3-1 to secure the championship. The five-time world champion earned USD 250,000 and 1,000 Club Championship points for his victory.
Carlsen said he had studied Lazavik’s previous games and worked with his coaching staff to develop a more measured approach for the final. He noted that his previous online encounters with Lazavik had taught him to avoid taking unnecessary risks.
Despite going through the tournament without a defeat, Carlsen acknowledged that he faced difficult moments, particularly during matches against Alireza Firouzja and Nihal Sarin.
“There were certainly some moments, but I am thrilled to go undefeated,” Carlsen said after the final.
Carlsen’s latest triumph adds another major title to his decorated career and further underlines his dominance in both traditional and online chess.
Lazavik finished runner-up and received USD 190,000 and 750 Club Championship points for AG.AL.
Nakamura Finishes Third Amid Technical Chaos
Hikaru Nakamura secured third place after defeating Alireza Firouzja 4-1 in a match marred by repeated technical problems and disconnections. Firouzja left the venue after the fourth game while Nakamura led 3-1, with officials subsequently awarding the remaining result as a forfeit.
Nakamura initially criticised Chess.com over the disruptions but later clarified that the issue originated with the Esports World Cup and had also affected other competitions.
The chess championship followed a best-of-three sets format. The opening two sets consisted of four games each, with a two-game decider available if the match required it.
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