Chess.com Joins Esports Nations Cup As Official Publisher For 2026 Launch

Chess.com has been announced as one of three new publishers for the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC), joining a lineup of major game developers partnering with the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) to build the first major country-versus-country esports competition.

Chess made a highly successful debut at the Esports World Cup (EWC) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this summer, with the world's top players competing for a massive $1.5 million prize fund. As was announced earlier this year, the event will return in 2026, with a new qualifying cycle that makes it bigger, better, and more competitive.

Today, Chess.com has joined MOONTON Games and SNK as one of three new publishing partners, adding to the existing roster of publishers EA, Krafton, Tencent, and Ubisoft, for the new Esports Nations Cup. The event will make its debut in November 2026, aiming to become the premier international stage for national esports teams, rather than top clubs as in the EWC.

The EWCF says publishers will play a deeper role than in typical esports partnerships, working as “close collaborators” on everything from competitive integrity to long-term format design.

"By partnering closely with publishers, we can make the Esports Nations Cup truly player-centric, and give players the opportunity to represent their country in the games that define their careers," said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation. "With the seven partners announced so far as close collaborators, we can activate players worldwide and deliver a Nations Cup that feels earned for players and real for fans, and build a stage that national teams can aspire to for years to come."

By partnering closely with publishers, we can make the Esports Nations Cup truly player-centric, and give players the opportunity to represent their country in the games that define their careers.
—Ralf Reichert, Esports World Cup Foundation

The ENC will feature national teams across North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Oceania, competing both individually and in team formats. Qualification will be multi-layered and combine global rankings, regional qualifiers, and wildcard entries, including solidarity placements, "to ensure a broad and representative competitive stage in every game," according to the press release.

After its 2026 launch in Riyadh, the ENC will move to a rotating host model, allowing countries around the world the opportunity to bring national esports teams to local fans. The event will be held every two years.

More details about the Esports Nations Cup are expected in the coming weeks.