Indian Grandmaster Aravindh Chithambaram has created history by becoming the first Indian chess player to qualify for the Esports World Cup 2026 main event.
Representing esports organisation S8UL, Aravindh secured qualification after winning the Road to EWC Chess qualifier at DreamHack Atlanta. His victory also earned him prize money of USD 15,000 and a coveted place at one of the biggest esports competitions in the world.
The Esports World Cup has rapidly emerged as a major global platform for competitive gaming and digital sports, with chess now becoming an increasingly prominent part of the esports ecosystem. Aravindh’s qualification marks a landmark achievement for Indian chess in the rapidly growing esports arena.
The 26-year-old Grandmaster has been enjoying an impressive rise in world chess over the past few years with strong performances in international tournaments. He has previously won major events including the Prague Chess Festival Masters and the Chennai Grand Masters tournament.
Aravindh’s success is also being seen as a major boost for the integration of chess into mainstream esports, especially in India where interest in both competitive chess and gaming continues to grow rapidly.
Indian chess fans will now closely follow his campaign at the Esports World Cup 2026 as he prepares to compete against elite players from across the globe.
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