Esports World Cup 2027 Expands Qualifiers, Opens New Pathways for Chess Players & Grassroots Communities Worldwide

Riyadh, October 21: The road to the Esports World Cup (EWC) is set to become more accessible in 2027, with the Esports Foundation unveiling an expanded qualification programme designed to connect established tournaments, grassroots competitions and local esports communities to the global stage.

The newly announced EWC Qualifier Programme aims to reach 1.8 million players through more than 400 events in 2027, opening additional opportunities for competitors to pursue a place at one of the biggest events in competitive gaming. The initiative strengthens the existing Road to EWC framework by bringing more tournament organisers and regional esports ecosystems into the qualification structure.

At the heart of the programme are two pathways: EWC Direct Qualifiers and EWC Satellite Last Chance Qualifiers (SLCQs). Together, they aim to bridge the gap between established competitions and emerging talent, allowing players to compete closer to home while retaining a route to the international stage.

"Road to EWC has shown what is possible when the different pathways across competitive esports connect to one global destination," said Faisal Bin Homran, Chief Product Officer at the Esports Foundation.

"There are great tournaments and strong esports communities in every part of the world. By bringing more of them into Road to EWC, we can create more opportunities for players to compete in their own communities and give local esports ecosystems an official role in building the pathway to the Esports World Cup."

The Direct Qualifiers will strengthen links with established tournaments, allowing organisers to retain their identities and local commercial opportunities while meeting EWC and publisher requirements. The Satellite SLCQs, meanwhile, will create opportunities for grassroots organisers, esports venues, universities, cyber cafés, federations and gaming festivals to host competitions connected to the EWC qualification system.
Winners of Satellite SLCQs will earn guaranteed entry into the relevant EWC Last Chance

Qualifiers next summer, where they will compete for places at the main event. The Esports Foundation will also provide accommodation and visa support for winners.

Initially, the Satellite pathway will cover Chess, Counter-Strike 2, FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves and Street Fighter 6, with additional titles to be announced.

For Indian chess, the expansion offers an especially significant opportunity. Four Indian Grandmasters competed at EWC 2026, underlining the country's growing presence in the competitive chess ecosystem. Vidit Gujrathi reached the final of India Rising, the official Chess qualifier for EWC 2026, while Karthik Venkataraman finished among the top 12 in the Last Chance Qualifiers. In 2025, Nihal Sarin, representing S8UL Esports, progressed through the Last Chance Qualifier to reach the quarterfinals.

The programme also builds on the impact of previous Last Chance Qualifiers. In 2024, João "jafonsogv" Vasconcelos advanced through the EA SPORTS FC Last Chance Qualifier before going on to win the EWC title, demonstrating how an additional qualification route can transform a competitor's campaign.