GM Mitrabha Guha tops regional qualifier to qualify for Esports Nations Cup

Indian Chess Prodigy Mitrabha Guha Secures Spot in Esports Nations Cup

GM Mitrabha Guha tops regional qualifier - Indian Grandmaster Mitrabha Guha has claimed a place in the Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026, after triumphing in the regional qualifier held in Riyadh. His success places him alongside fellow compatriot Nihal Sarin in the national team for the event, which will take place in November.

Qualification Breakdown and Tournament Structure

The Esports Nations Cup will see 128 players compete for a total prize pool of USD 600,000, with the competition running from November 2 to November 29. The initial phase will consist of a round-robin stage divided into 16 groups of eight participants each. Following this, 64 players will advance to a single-elimination playoff bracket.

Sarin's qualification was automatic, secured through the Champions Chess Tour Leaderboard. Meanwhile, Guha’s performance in the regional qualifier earned him a berth in the Upper Bracket quarterfinals. He then defeated Syria’s Malek Koniahli and Iran’s Artin Ashraf to qualify for the finals.

Global Participation and Notable Contenders

The ENC 2026 lineup includes some of the world’s top chess players, such as Norwegian Magnus Carlsen, Polish Jan-Krzysztof Duda, French Alireza Firouzja, and American Hikaru Nakamura. The tournament also welcomes Swiss grandmaster Alexandra Kosteniuk and Estonian Mai Narva, who made history as the first women to officially qualify.

Additional spots were filled by 61 players who advanced through regional qualifiers hosted by Chess.com. The remaining three participants were selected via wildcard entries, ensuring representation from all countries and territories, with a maximum of two players per nation.

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