Esports World Cup: Magnus Carlsen will face Alireza Firouzja in the Finals
GM Arjun Erigaisi (Gen.G Esports) defeated GM Ian Nepomniachtchi (Aurora Gaming) 2.5-1.5 to advance to the Semifinals of Esports World Cup 2025. Arjun lost the Semifinal match against GM Alireza Firouzja (Team Falcons) 1-4 in a six-game match. GM Nihal Sarin (S8UL Esports) got crushed in his own words against GM Magnus Carlsen (Team Liquid). Magnus will face Firouzja in the Finals today. Arjun will battle GM Hikaru Nakamura (Team Falcons) for the third place. Apart from our youtube channel, watch the live stream commentary also on Sony Liv by IM Sagar Shah, Amruta Mokal and GM Harshit Raja without the seven-minute delay from 6:30 p.m. IST today. Photo: Esports World Cup 2025
Arjun Erigaisi to clash with Hikaru Nakamura for third place
The time control for all games is 10 minutes with no increment. All players are allowed to wear noise-canceling headphones and also listen to their choice of music if they wish to. This is on par with all chess esports events. Apart from US$ 1.5 Million prize fund, the chess players are also part esports teams of a shared $27 Million prize fund. As per the rules of the tournament, the loser of a match gets their key crushed by their opponent.
Quarterfinals: Arjun Erigaisi (Gen.G Esports) - Ian Nepomniachtchi (Aurora Gaming): 2.5-1.5
GM Arjun Erigaisi (Gen.G Esports) drew the first game against GM Ian Nepomniachtchi (Aurora Gaming). Arjun won the second game, Nepomniachtchi bounced back in the third. Arjun won the fourth game to win the match and advance to the Quarterfinals.
Nodirbek Abdusattorov (NAVI) - Alireza Firouzja (Team Falcons): 1-3
The first two games between GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov (NAVI) and GM Alireza Firouzja (Team Falcons) ended in draws. Firouzja won the next two games to win the match and advance to the Semifinals.
Magnus Carlsen (Team Liquid) - Nihal Sarin (S8UL Esports): 2.5-0.5
GM Magnus Carlsen (Team Liquid) needed only three games to win the match against GM Nihal Sarin (S8UL Esports). Nihal made a great save in the first game. However, he lost the next two to get eliminated. "I am just very happy to get a chance to play against Magnus. He is my biggest inspiration. It's my first time getting to play him in a match. " - Nihal shared in a post-match interview.
Nihal's team S8UL Esports tweeted on Nihal
Hikaru Nakamura (Team Falcons) - Levon Aronian (Team Reject): 2.5-1.5
GM Levon Aronian (Team Reject) and GM Hikaru Nakamura (Team Falcons) started the match with a draw. Nakamura won the first game, Aronian struck back in the next before Nakamura won again to clinch the match and set up a clash against Magnus Carlsen in the Semifinals.
Semifinals: Arjun Erigaisi - Alireza Firouzja: 1-4
Alireza Firouzja won three games with the white pieces and drew two with black against Arjun Erigaisi to win the six-game match 1-4 in his favor.
Magnus Carlsen - Hikaru Nakamura: 4-3
Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura won two games with each color and the remaining two ended in draws. Carlsen won the must-win Armageddon with white pieces to secure his place in the Finals.