The third day of the Chess.com Open 2026 has concluded. After 9-round Swiss, Russian GM Ian Nepomniachtchi scored 6 wins and 3 draws to win the first Play-in with 7.5/9 points.

Uzbek GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov and American GM Wesley So tied for second place and played a qualifying match. Abdusattorov scored one win and one draw to defeat Wesley 1.5-0.5. Ian Nepomniachtchi and Nodirbek Abdusattorov qualified for the Playoff stage of the tournament.

The final standings of the first Play-in are:

Place Player Score Prize
1. 🇷🇺 GM Ian Nepomniachtchi 7.5 Qualification
2. 🇺🇿 GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov 7 Qualification
3. 🇺🇸 GM Wesley So 7 $1,500
4. 🇺🇸 GM Hans Moke Niemann 7 $1,000
5. 🇷🇺 GM Alexander Grischuk 6.5 $500
6. 🇮🇳 GM Raunak Sadhwani 6.5 $200
7. 🇺🇸 GM Fabiano Caruana 6 $200
8. 🇷🇺 GM Vladislav Artemiev 6 $200
9. 🇮🇳 GM Nihal Sarin 6 $200
10. 🇷🇺 GM Dmitry Andreikin 6 $200

The Chess.com Open 2026 is a major qualifying pathway for the Esports World Cup 2026, running from March 14 to April 26. The top three finishers in the playoffs qualify for the EWC, and the total tournament prize pool is $250,000.

Credit: Esports World Cup