The 21-year-old Grandmaster will face World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen after defeating Anish Giri and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in a dramatic comeback run
National, July 31, 2025: In a powerful comeback that underlines his growing dominance on the international stage, Grandmaster Nihal Sarin, representing S8UL Esports, has advanced to the quarterfinals of the Chess tournament at the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
After a challenging start with a 0–2 loss to fellow Indian GM Arjun Erigaisi, the 21-year-old Sarin rebounded with clinical victories in the lower bracket. He first delivered a clean 2–0 win over Dutch GM Anish Giri, showcasing his trademark speed and precision. In the lower bracket final, Sarin faced French GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, holding a difficult first game to a draw with exceptional positional awareness before clinching the match 1.5–0.5 with a confident second-game victory.
His performances earned him a coveted playoff berth from Group B, setting up a thrilling quarterfinal clash with World No. 1 and five-time World Champion Magnus Carlsen on Thursday, July 31.
> “It feels great to make it to the playoffs, especially after such intense games against both Anish and Maxime,” said Nihal Sarin. “Both matches really tested me, but I’m glad I found my rhythm when it mattered most. I’m looking forward to carrying this momentum into the last eight and giving it my best.”
The EWC 2025 Chess playoffs promise high-intensity battles, with quarterfinals featuring four rapid games (10+0 format). Semi-finals will escalate to six games, culminating in a best-of-six Grand Final. With a $1.5 million prize pool (approx. INR 12.9 crore) and $250,000 (approx. INR 2.1 crore) reserved for the champion, the stakes are higher than ever.
Nihal’s success further boosts S8UL’s multi-title presence at EWC 2025. The organization’s Apex Legends team has already competed in the Grand Finals, and EAFC athlete Jonas Wirth (Jonny) is slated to represent S8UL from August 7 to 10. Meanwhile, Aaron Rivera (Happy) will aim to qualify via the Play-Ins on August 3, and Tekken 8 athletes Arja Gamoori (Sephiblack) and Nino Schwarz (Nino) will compete in the Last Chance Qualifiers from August 7 to 9.
As the only Indian team inducted into the Esports World Cup Foundation’s prestigious Club Support Program, S8UL continues to elevate Indian esports on the global stage, turning heads with world-class talent across multiple disciplines and redefining the perception of India in international competitive gaming.