Chess

Esports World Cup Chess playoffs: Full bracket, quarter-finals and schedule

DAZN

14, Aug

Esports World Cup Chess playoffs: Full bracket, quarter-finals and schedule

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The Esports World Cup Chess playoffs are set, with eight players remaining in contention for the title in Paris.

Defending champion Magnus Carlsen is safely through to the knockout stage after an unbeaten group-stage campaign, while Hikaru Nakamura, Hans Niemann and Alireza Firouzja are among the other big names still standing.

There is also a significant Indian presence in the last eight.

Nihal Sarin survived the lower bracket to set up a huge quarter-final against Carlsen, while Arjun Erigaisi will face Nakamura for a place in the semi-finals.

The playoffs begin on Friday, August 14 before the tournament reaches its conclusion on Saturday.

Here is everything you need to know about the Esports World Cup Chess playoffs.

Who has qualified for the Esports World Cup Chess playoffs?

Eight players have reached the knockout stage:

Magnus Carlsen
Nihal Sarin
Hikaru Nakamura
Arjun Erigaisi
Nodirbek Abdusattorov
Denis Lazavik
Alireza Firouzja
Hans Niemann

Carlsen, Nakamura, Firouzja and Abdusattorov secured their places through the upper bracket, each winning their opening two group-stage matches.

The remaining four places were decided through the lower bracket on Thursday.

Nihal, Arjun, Lazavik and Niemann survived their elimination matches to complete the quarter-final line-up.

Esports World Cup Chess quarter-final bracket

Hikaru Nakamura Miguel Pereira/Getty Images

There are four matches in the quarter-finals:

Hikaru Nakamura vs Arjun Erigaisi

Nakamura progressed directly through the upper bracket and now faces one of India's leading grandmasters.

Arjun was forced to come through the lower bracket to reach the playoffs but will have the opportunity to eliminate one of the biggest names in chess and book his place in the final four.

Nodirbek Abdusattorov vs Denis Lazavik

Abdusattorov was another player to qualify through the upper bracket and will meet Lazavik, who secured one of the final playoff places on Thursday.

Magnus Carlsen vs Nihal Sarin

The defending champion meets one of India's most exciting players.

Carlsen defeated Andrey Esipenko and Niemann by identical 1.5-0.5 scores during the group stage to progress without needing to navigate the lower bracket.

Nihal took a considerably more dramatic route, surviving elimination to reach the last eight and earn another shot at the world No.1.

Alireza Firouzja vs Hans Niemann

Two of the most recognisable players in the tournament meet in another blockbuster quarter-final.

Firouzja advanced through the upper bracket, while Niemann recovered after losing to Carlsen to keep his tournament alive through the lower bracket.

How do the Esports World Cup Chess playoffs work?

The final eight compete in a single-elimination bracket, meaning there is no longer a second chance for anyone who loses.

The quarter-finals are played over four games.

That increases to six games for the semi-finals, while the two losing semi-finalists will also contest a six-game third-place match.

The Grand Final uses a different format.

It is played as a best-of-three-set contest. The opening two sets consist of four games each, with a deciding third set of two games played if the finalists are tied after the first two sets.