Esports World Cup 2025: S8UL Signs Indian Grandmasters Nihal Sarin And Aravindh Chithambaram

In 2013, he made headlines after winning his first major title at the Chennai Grandmaster International Open, followed by earning his International Master title in 2014 and becoming a Grandmaster in 2015.

Aravindh later went on to win the National Premier Chess Championship twice, in 2018 and 2019. His 2019 victory was particularly historic, as he became the first Indian to win the Indian Open in all three formats including classical, rapid and blitz. Most recently, he won the 2025 Prague Chess Festival Masters and is currently ranked 4th in India and 11th in the world, with a FIDE rating of 2749.

“This moment is special not just for me personally, but for Indian chess as a whole. Being part of S8UL’s lineup for the Esports World Cup reflects how far the game has come and how it continues to evolve. The fact that a mainstream esports organisation is investing in chess players shows the growing recognition of chess as both a competitive and spectator sport in the digital space. It feels great to be part of this new wave, and I hope to make my country proud on the global stage," said Aravindh.

Joining him is Nihal Sarin, a 20-year-old chess prodigy from Thrissur, Kerala, widely regarded as one of the brightest young talents on the global chess circuit. He began playing at the age of six and rose to prominence after winning the World Youth Chess Championship in the Under 10 category in Durban.

Since then, he has delivered strong international performances, including a runner up finish in the Chess dot com Global Championship in 2022. Most recently, he clinched the President’s Cup 2024 and followed it up with an unbeaten title run at the Tashkent Open, scoring 8 out of 10. Nihal is currently ranked 8th in India and 40th in the world, with a FIDE rating of 2687.

“Being part of the Esports World Cup is a new and exciting experience for me. Chess has traditionally lived in a very classical space, but the way it is now being embraced as part of the esports world opens up a whole new dimension for players and audiences alike. Representing India and S8UL on this global stage is an honour, and I look forward to this opportunity of taking the game I love to a much broader audience and inspire more young minds to pick it up," Nihal said.

Making its debut at this year’s edition of the EWC, Chess will feature a total prize pool of $1.5 million (approximately INR 12.9 crore), with Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen joining as the Global Ambassador. The format will follow a rapid 10+0 time control, where each player will have 10 minutes per game with no increment. Players will qualify through the Champions Chess Tour’s February and May events, while a Last Chance Qualifier in Riyadh will determine the final four competitors.