After the great success achieved by Chess in its first edition last year, Chess returns as one of the main titles in the 2026 Electronic Sports World Cup (EWC26), reinforcing its status as a mental sport that perfectly merges with the world of digital excitement.
Format
Stage 1: Play-ins
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Format: 8 players in a Double-Elimination bracket.
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Matches: 2 games per match.
Stage 2: Group Stage
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Format: 4 groups of 4 in a GSL (Double-Elimination) bracket.
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Matches: 2 games per match.
Stage 3: Playoffs
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Format: Single-Elimination bracket.
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Matches:
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Round of 8: 4 games per match.
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Round of 4: 6 games per match.
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Grand Finals: Best-of-3 Sets (Sets 1 & 2 are 4 games; a 3rd tiebreaker Set is 2 games).
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