Sidley Advises Chess.com on Agreement With Esports World Cup Foundation for Inaugural Esports Nations Cup

Sidley is representing Chess.com in connection with its agreement with the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) relating to the inclusion and operation of chess at the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026, set to debut in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia this November.

Chess will be one of the select titles featured at ENC 2026, with 128 players representing their countries and territories in one of the largest international chess competitions to date. The tournament will include regional qualifying events operated by Chess.com across seven global regions. Chess at ENC 2026 will field an unprecedented number of competitors, allowing new talents and underrepresented nations to compete on a major stage as the historically significant game grows its presence in the world of esports.

The ENC is a biennial global competition created by EWCF to establish a recurring, large-scale platform for national teams in esports. The 2026 event will launch with a US$45 million funding commitment across all titles, further expanding the integration of chess into the global esports ecosystem and building on its successful debut at the Esports World Cup in 2025.

The Sidley team includes Nima Mohebbi, Eric Geffner, and Dylan Sherwyn.