Dutch GM Anish Giri commented on Fabiano Caruana’s tweet about the Proctor system disconnecting him in the first Play-in of the Chess.com Open 2026. Giri questions the lack of major online tournaments on Lichess.org:

Anish Giri

Anish Giri

Netherlands' No. 1

“Why the biggest online events are not hosted on Lichess is quite frankly beyond me.

Must be some kind of conspiracy… Like a mafia of sorts.”

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. American GM Fabiano Caruana was disconnected from the Proctor system in Round 8 of the first Play-in and finished in 7th place.

Credit: Esports World Cup