ENC 2026 Chess Qualifiers Complete: 82 Nations Set for Riyadh Showdown

The Esports Foundation (EF) has finalized the online regional qualifiers for the Chess tournament at the Esports Nations Cup 2026 (ENC), set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from November 2-29, 2026. With the qualifiers now concluded, the stage is set for an unprecedented global chess competition featuring at least 82 countries and territories.

The 128-player chess field is now fully determined, with 64 players receiving direct invitations based on official Champions Chess Tour (CCT) rankings as of the end of May. The remaining 61 players secured their spots through online regional qualifiers organized by Chess.com, covering seven distinct regions: North America, South America, Africa, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle East/India/Central Asia, and East Asia/Southeast Asia/Oceania.

An additional slot was awarded to Amani Alazmi (Kuwait) through the Host Region Wildcard, recognizing the next highest-placing competitor from the host nation. Two Wildcard Solidarity slots for underrepresented regions will be announced by the end of August, ensuring broader global representation. The qualifiers have already delivered surprises, with nations like Jamaica, Paraguay, Singapore, South Africa, Tajikistan, Tunisia, and Turkmenistan each securing two qualifying slots despite not receiving direct invitations. Countries such as Honduras, Mexico, El Salvador, Venezuela, Morocco, Nigeria, Algeria, Jordan, Australia, and New Zealand also earned their spots through regional events.

The chess competition at ENC 2026 will kick off on November 2 and run through November 8. The event will begin with a round-robin group stage, featuring 16 groups of eight players each. Following the group stage, the tournament will transition into a 64-player single-elimination playoff bracket, culminating in a thrilling climax. The full list of qualified players and nations is available on the official ENC website.

This diverse and competitive field underscores the growing global appeal of chess as a mainstream esports discipline. The inclusion of such a wide range of nations highlights the sport’s universal accessibility and the Esports Nations Cup’s commitment to fostering international competition.