Indian GM Nihal Sarin shared his opinion on esports chess in an interview with The Times of India. Nihal says this format is more comfortable, and criticizes the over-the-board chess.

Nihal Sarin

Nihal Sarin

Indian GM

“Some players just feel way more comfortable in the comfort of their home, in front of their laptop in their setup with their mouse in hand. I like it too. Maybe from the comfort of your home. It’s just a different feel.

Over-the-board, it honestly can become a complete circus. Online, you don’t have to knock down pieces, you can move at your own pace, and you can pre-move. The time scrambles give that extra gaming element which spectators like to see. There’s a lot of drama.

I think this format, this esports format, is making chess even more interesting. I think this format could be the future where the audience can watch the players’ expressions closely, listen to commentary, and see them battle it out on a screen.

It’s a completely different feeling.”

Chess began development as an esports discipline in early 2025. Famous esports organizations such as Team Vitality, Natus Vincere, Team Liquid, and others have signed top grandmasters to their rosters. The first major tournament Esports World Cup 2025 was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with a $1,500,000 prize pool. The 2026 Esports World Cup will be held in the same location with the same prize pool from August 11th to 15th.

Credit: Lennart Ootes / FIDE