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Technical Glitch Halts EWC Chess; Nakamura Wins by Default
16 Aug
Summary
- Firouzja forfeited the third-place chess match due to technical issues.
- Nakamura initially blamed Chess.com but later apologized.
- The Esports World Cup faced widespread technical failures affecting multiple events.
The third-place match at the 2026 Esports World Cup between Alireza Firouzja and Hikaru Nakamura was significantly disrupted by a technical failure. The incident occurred during the fourth game, which Nakamura was leading 2-1.
Frustrated by a lengthy pause, Firouzja departed the arena, ultimately forfeiting the match. Nakamura was awarded the victory 3-1. He initially voiced criticism towards Chess.com, believing it responsible for the connection problems.
However, Nakamura later retracted his statements, apologizing to Chess.com and clarifying that the technical issue was an EWC-wide problem affecting multiple events, not just chess. This disruption led to Nakamura securing third place and earning $145,000.
Potential disciplinary action against Firouzja for his departure is still under consideration by tournament stakeholders, depending on whether his actions are deemed a breach of competition rules.
