Magnus Carlsen, the world No 1 from Norway, clinched victory at the 2026 Esports World Cup held at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles last weekend, successfully defending his title from Riyadh 2025. Carlsen walked away with a staggering first prize of $250,000 (£183,000), demonstrating his unmatched skill by going through the tournament unbeaten.

The event featured a blitz format with each player allotted 10 minutes per game, which led to high-stakes moments and thrilling blunders. Carlsen showcased his prowess by defeating:

• Andrey Esipenko (Russia) and Hans Niemann (US) 1.5-0.5 in the group stage
• Nihal Sarin (India) 2.5-0.5 in the quarter-finals
• Alireza Firouzja (France) 4-1 in the semi-finals
• Denis Lazavik (Belarus) 3-1, 3-1 in the final

In the final, Carlsen executed a brilliant positional queen sacrifice against Lazavik, who proved to be a formidable opponent despite being ranked world No 110 in classical chess. Carlsen praised Lazavik’s solid play, stating, "He just doesn’t beat himself!"

Despite the challenges, Carlsen maintained his strategy of playing tight chess, emphasizing the randomness that can occur in blitz formats. He expressed satisfaction with his undefeated record, highlighting both his strategic execution and a bit of luck.

Meanwhile, Hikaru Nakamura (USA), ranked world No 3, secured third place by defeating Firouzja in a match that ended with a score of 3-1 after Firouzja defaulted the fifth game due to technical issues.

In other chess news, Wesley So (US) and Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu (India) tied at the Sinquefield Cup, with So making history as the first player to win it three times. The Cairns Cup saw Tan Zhongyi from China winning, while Alice Lee (US) earned her first GM norm.

Additionally, the Kingston upon Thames Invitational continues to attract attention with notable performances, including a lengthy game by CM Peter Lalic. Upcoming events include the Mind Sports Olympiad Rapid in London, featuring top players and substantial prize money.