Grandmaster Le Quang Liem participated in the EWC 2026 qualifiers held in Atlanta, Georgia, from 15/5 to 17/5. This qualifying round featured a 50,000 USD prize pool and utilized a double-elimination format. In his first match, the 35-year-old player easily defeated an amateur opponent 2-0, then beat International Master Carlos Perdomo by the same score. Liem continued his winning streak against Grandmaster Jules Moussard 1.5-0.5, advancing to the winners' bracket quarterfinals.

Quang Liem, Chithambaram, Esipenko, and Sarana (from left to right) secured spots at the Esports World Cup, after the qualifiers in Atlanta, Georgia, USA on 17/5/2026. Photo: EWC Extra

In that round, Liem defeated Grandmaster Oleksandr Bortnyk, but then lost 1-2 to Grandmaster Alexey Sarana in the next match. A victory against Sarana would have secured Liem's EWC ticket earlier. In the losers' bracket, Liem faced Moussard again, with the Vietnamese representative winning both games. This result was enough to secure his EWC spot through the Atlanta qualifiers, alongside Aravindh Chithambaram, Sarana, and Andrey Esipenko. The top four players from the qualifiers earn a berth at the EWC.

Liem then defeated Esipenko, but subsequently lost to Sarana. Consequently, the player, born in 1991, finished third overall in the qualifiers, earning 5,000 USD in prize money. Chithambaram secured first place, receiving 15,000 USD.

The chess event at EWC 2026 will take place in Saudi Arabia from 11/8 to 15/8. It is expected to gather 21 players competing for a total prize pool of 1.5 million USD. In addition to the four qualifiers from Atlanta, other confirmed participants include Carlsen, Alireza Firouzja, Denis Lazavik, and Jan-Krzysztof Duda. Thirteen spots remain open and will be determined through subsequent qualifying rounds.

This marks the first time a Vietnamese player has secured a spot at the EWC. The tournament was first held in 2025, featuring 16 players. Carlsen emerged victorious in 2025 after defeating Firouzja in the final, earning 250,000 USD. Last year's EWC participants were guaranteed to receive at least 50,000 USD.

The EWC 2026 will feature 24 disciplines, boasting a prize pool of up to 75 million USD, marking its third iteration. Athletes compete in teams, vying for both team and individual accolades. The champion team will receive 7 million USD.

Xuan Binh