The Esports World Chess Cup Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) will offer one final opportunity for players to earn a place in the next stage of the competition through a demanding multi-stage format. The event begins with eight separate 7-round Swiss tournaments, giving participants multiple chances to secure qualification.
Only the top two finishers from each Swiss tournament will advance. The winner of each Swiss event will be placed directly into the Upper Bracket of the knockout stage, while the runner-up will enter the Lower Bracket, creating a 16-player double-elimination bracket.
Among the top participants in the Esports World Chess Cup Last Chance Qualifier are Hans Niemann, Levon Aronian, Anish Giri, R Praggnanandhaa, Nihal Sarin, Javokhir Sindarov, Andrey Esipenko, Alexey Sarana, Olexandr Bortnyk, Vidit Gujrathi, Vladimir Fedoseev, Yu Yangyi, Sam Sevian, Jeffery Xiong, Amin Tabatabaei. Scroll down for the alphabetical list of participants. Live games will be daily on Chessdom.com, while you can find frequent updates on Twitter / X here
Knockout matches will generally consist of two games per match, ensuring a fast-paced and competitive format. However, the stakes increase significantly in the decisive encounters, as the matches that determine qualification for the Esports World Cup (EWC) Play-in will be extended to four games, providing a more comprehensive test of the players’ strength.
At the conclusion of the double-elimination bracket, the top four finishers will secure their places in the EWC Play-in. A fifth qualification spot will also be awarded, with the players finishing fifth and sixth contesting an additional tiebreak match for the final Play-in berth. The format guarantees that every round remains meaningful, with multiple routes to qualification but little room for error in the decisive stages.
Esports World Cup (EWC) Last Chance Qualifier participants
Alan Pichot
Aleksandar Indjic
Alex Bian
Alexander Grischuk
Alexandra Prado
Andrei-Mihai Bonte
Andrew Tang
Angel Daniel Trevino Luna
Antoine Marchais
Antonin Ferey
Armand Sahetchian
Aryan Tari
Astrid Vasquez Alcala
Axel Brisse
Bassam El Zein
Bertrand Kouoi
Bilel Bellahcene
Brandon Debarge
Cecilia Pereira Garza
Daniil Dubov
Daria Koshcheeva
Dimitri Monnier
Eduardo Iturrizaga Bonelli
Eric Hansen
Georg Meier
George Danzer
Gianmarco Leiva
Herve Daurelle
Hippolyte Valentin
Ilyass Msellek
Jean Baptiste Reynes
Jean-Roger Louvrier Saint-Mary
Jeaniero Ralaitsizafy
Jesus Javier Jara Segovia
Jonathan Dourerassou
Jonathan Pein
Jonathan Tayar
Jose Martinez Alcantara
Jules Moussard
Kacper Latka
Karthik Venkataraman
Kenzo Allamigeon
Leon Yu
Liliam Barbara Blanco Garcia
Loek van Wely
Lorenzo Lodici
Luca Jr Moroni
Marc Gourier
Mathis Serrier
Mathis Thibous
Matthieu Noel
Maxence Floquet
Maxence Vanhalst
Medhi Debbouza
Miguel Pinto Santos
Mohamed Samir Lechheb
Nahil Azzouz
Nathan Pujol
Nguyễn Hoàng Bách
Nodirbek Yakubboev
Oleksandr Yurovskykh
Olexandr Bortnyk
Parham Maghsoodloo
Pranesh M
Raphaël Gueroult
Rayen Ajili
Remi Arnaud
Rinat Jumabayev
Robert-Gabriel Sava
Sajid Salhi
Salem Saleh
Sebastien Sobry
Splendor Adike
Sumiya Bilguun
Tancrède Salotti
Thibault Chaillou
Thierry Duhal
Todimahery Ramarosaona
Valentin Jaouen
Valery Kazakouski
Velimir Ivic
Vladislav Artemiev
Vladislav Lymar
Wei Yi
Yann Jacquot
Yann Nahed
Yaroslav Zherebukh
Yosha Iglesias
Zayne-Eddine El Zein
Zbigniew Pakleza
