I've spent over 20 years inside the betting industry. I'll guide you to avoid the hype, ignore the noise, and steer clear of the common pitfalls that catch out everyday punters.
- Magnus Carlsen is 5/4 favourite to win the inaugural Chess eSports World Cup
- Blitz format and Armageddon deciders add unpredictability to the tournament
- Nakamura (5/1) and Firouzja (8/1) present biggest threats to Carlsen’s crown
Chess Makes eSports World Cup Debut with Carlsen Favourite for Inaugural Title
Magnus Carlsen leads the betting to win the first-ever Chess Esports World Cup, with bet365's odds of 5/4 placing him as the man to beat in the tournament's historic debut.
Held as part of the Esports World Cup 2025, the chess competition features a $1.5 million prize pool and a cutting-edge format.
Carlsen was announced as an ambassador for the event earlier this year, helping secure the game’s place on the global eSports stage.
With a fast-paced 10-minute time control and Armageddon tiebreaks set to increase the drama the event promises elite-level action and a format built for spectacle.
Bookmakers give full odds for the event, with Carlsen given a 44.4% probability of winning according to the market.
| Esports World Cup Chess Winner | Odds | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Magnus Carlsen | 5/4 | 44.4% |
| Hikaru Nakamura | 5/1 | 16.7% |
| Alireza Firouzja | 8/1 | 11.1% |
| Fabiano Caruana | 11/1 | 8.3% |
| Ian Nepomniachtchi | 12/1 | 7.7% |
What the expert says...
Format: Blitz Battles and Armageddon Drama
The tournament begins with a GSL-style group stage of 16 players across four groups. Matches will feature two blitz games (10+0), with ties settled by an Armageddon decider.
Stage 2 moves into a single-elimination bracket, with match lengths increasing round by round:
- Round of 8: 4 games per match
- Semi-finals: 6 games
- Grand Final: Best-of-three sets (two sets of 4 games; decider set of 2 if needed)
The format has been engineered for digital viewership, favouring aggressive play, tight time pressure, and plenty of potential upsets.
Where to Bet on eSports World Cup Chess
With chess joining the Esports World Cup for the first time, markets are already live across the best chess betting sites.
You can find the latest outright winner odds at bet365, alongside in-play betting and stage-by-stage markets closer to the event.
Look out for free bets and boosted prices on opening weekend, especially if you’re backing underdogs in this high-variance blitz format.
