The Esports Foundation (EF) announced that the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC) has been postponed to November 2027. The chess tournament at the event was previously scheduled to take place from November 2 to 8, 2026.

The EF cites ongoing uncertainty surrounding the wider regional situation as the reason. The postponement aims to ensure stability and certainty for the event. The EF made the decision to postpone after consulting with stakeholders.

The EF notes that Saudi Arabia remains fully capable of hosting events. The official press release from the EF does not address early bird ticket refunds. Tickets for the event have been available since June.

The Esports Nations Cup is a global esports tournament with players competing in national teams. ENC 2026 is the inaugural tournament organized by the Esports World Cup Foundation. Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Alireza Firouzja, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Ian Nepomniachtchi and others are invited to the event.

Credit: Esports World Cup