GM Mitrabha Guha Secures Place In India’s Esports Nations Cup 2026 Chess Team

Grandmaster Mitrabha Guha booked a place in India’s chess lineup for the Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026. Mitrabha Guha topped the regional qualifier and joined Grandmaster Nihal Sarin for the Finals in Riyadh. The nation-based event in Saudi Arabia runs from November 2-29, 2026. Chess matches finish earlier, with the final on November 8.

ENC 2026 chess includes 128 players and a USD 600,000 prize pool. The amount is about INR 5.7 crore. Play starts on November 2 with a round-robin group stage. The playoff ends on November 8. India’s second chess slot was decided through the regional pathway.

The first phase has 16 groups with eight players in each group. After that stage, 64 players move into a single-elimination bracket. A total of 64 players earned direct invites through official CCT rankings. The system also ensured representation from 64 countries and territories. Each country or territory can field up to two players.

The remaining places came through several routes. A further 61 players advanced from regional qualifiers run by Chess.com. The final three places were filled through wildcard slots. The confirmed field includes Magnus Carlsen, Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Alireza Firouzja, and Hikaru Nakamura. Alexandra Kosteniuk and Mai Narva became the first women to qualify.

Nihal Sarin had already secured a direct invite via the Champions Chess Tour leaderboard. That result left only one extra Indian place through regional play. The Middle East, India, and Central Asia qualifier began with a nine-round Swiss stage. Verified titled players competed under a 10+0 rapid time control. The top eight then entered a double-elimination bracket.

Mitrabha Guha led the Swiss standings as the only unbeaten player. Mitrabha Guha scored six wins and three draws from nine rounds. That finish sent Mitrabha Guha into the Upper Bracket quarterfinals. Mitrabha Guha beat Syria’s Malek Koniahli there. Mitrabha Guha then defeated Iran’s Artin Ashraf in the semifinals to qualify.

"The regional qualifier was challenging from start to finish. Chess has become an increasingly important part of the global esports ecosystem, and the Esports Nations Cup is a great reflection of that growth. The tournament will bring together some of the strongest players from around the world, so preparation will be key. Over the coming months, my focus will be on refining different aspects of my game and ensuring I am ready to perform at my highest level when the competition begins"

The 24-year-old Grandmaster arrived with recent title success. Mitrabha Guha won gold at the Commonwealth Chess Championship earlier in 2026. Mitrabha Guha had also won the title in the 2023-24 season. Chess is one of several titles in India’s broader ENC 2026 preparations. NODWIN Gaming is India’s National Team Partner for the tournament.

India’s announced ENC squads cover DOTA 2, MOBA Legends: 5v5!, and Rocket League. The DOTA 2 team plays regional qualifiers from June 29 to July 1. Two teams will qualify from that event. India is ranked 11th in MOBA Legends: 5v5! ENC rankings and may still earn a direct invite.

India's ENC 2026 Squad

With Mitrabha Guha qualifying and Nihal Sarin already invited, India’s chess entry for ENC 2026 is set. The chess competition in Riyadh runs from November 2 to November 8, within the wider ENC Finals window. A 128-player field and a USD 600,000 prize pool frame the contest. India’s other title squads now move towards their regional qualifiers.