Esports World Cup: S8UL signs Nihal Sarin, Aravindh to Lead in Chess

NEW DELHI: India’s top chess grandmasters Nihal Sarin and Aravindh Chithambaram will represent Team S8UL in chess at the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025, marking a milestone as chess joins the world of esports at this global stage for the very first time.

This announcement, made late Sunday night, brings together two of the country’s finest minds under the banner of India’s most successful esports organization—S8UL. The EWC 2025 is scheduled to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from July 7 to August 24, with chess making its historic debut and featuring a massive $1.5 million prize pool.

Chess Enters Esports: A Game-Changing Debut

This is the first time that online chess will be a part of the Esports World Cup, and India is making its mark through S8UL’s inclusion. Players qualify for EWC 2025 via the Champions Chess Tour (CCT)—two major online events held in February and May, followed by a Last Chance Qualifier to complete the 16-player final lineup.

Before Sarin and Chithambaram, Arjun Erigaisi became the first Indian to be signed by an esports team (Gen.G). Globally, big names like Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana have signed with Team Liquid, Hikaru Nakamura and Alireza Firouzja are with Team Falcons, Ian Nepomniachtchi plays for Team Aurora, and Ding Liren joins LGD.

ALSO READ: S8UL signs Aussie Apex Legends team for Esports World Cup 2025

Nihal Sarin: Thrissur Prodigy With Global Acclaim

At just 20 years old, Nihal Sarin has established himself as one of India’s brightest chess minds.

• Born in Thrissur, Kerala, he began playing chess at six years old.
• He rose to fame after clinching the World Youth Chess Championship (U10) in Durban.
• Known for his calm demeanor and speed, he became a Grandmaster in 2018.
• He finished runner-up at the Chess.com Global Championship 2022, showcasing his dominance in rapid and blitz formats.

In recent achievements:

• Winner of the President’s Cup 2024
• Unbeaten champion at the Tashkent Open 2024, scoring 8 out of 10
• Currently ranked 8th in India and 40th globally, with a FIDE rating of 2687

“Being part of the Esports World Cup is a new and exciting experience for me. Chess has traditionally lived in a very classical space, but the way it is now being embraced as part of the esports world opens up a whole new dimension for players and audiences alike. Representing India and S8UL on this global stage is an honour, and I look forward to this opportunity to take the game I love to a much broader audience and inspire more young minds to pick it up.”
— Nihal Sarin

Aravindh Chithambaram: Madurai’s Grandmaster Trailblazer

Hailing from Thirunagar, Madurai, Aravindh Chithambaram, 25, started playing chess at age seven, guided by his grandfather. His meteoric rise in the Indian chess circuit is a story of brilliance and resilience.

Key achievements:

• Won the Indian U-19 Championship at age 12
• Claimed his first major title at the 2013 Chennai GM International Open
• Became an International Master in 2014 and Grandmaster in 2015
• Two-time National Premier Champion (2018 & 2019)
• First Indian to win all formats (classical, rapid, blitz) in the Indian Open
• Most recently, he won the 2025 Prague Chess Festival Masters, solidifying his elite global standing

He is now ranked 4th in India and 11th in the world, with a FIDE rating of 2749—his career-best.

“This moment is special not just for me but for Indian chess as a whole. Being part of S8UL’s lineup for the Esports World Cup reflects how far the game has come and how it continues to evolve. The fact that a mainstream esports organisation is investing in chess players shows the growing recognition of chess as both a competitive and spectator sport in the digital space. It feels great to be part of this new wave, and I hope to make my country proud on the global stage.”
— Aravindh Chithambaram

 

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S8UL: Leading India’s Esports Charge Across Titles

S8UL, the only Indian organisation chosen for the Esports World Cup Foundation’s Club Partner Program, is expanding rapidly into global gaming titles. Alongside chess, they’ll field teams in:

• Apex Legends (featuring players Sharky, Jesko, and Legacy, coached by Rogers)
• EAFC 25
• Call of Duty: Warzone
• Tekken 8
  (Additional rosters to be announced soon)

S8UL has been named ‘Content Group of the Year’ at the Esports Awards for three consecutive years, blending creative content with competitive dominance.

“We are incredibly proud to be the first Indian team to step into the global esports chess arena. Nihal and Aravindh are not just two of India’s best, but among the top minds in the world. Their addition reflects our commitment to representing India in every genre of competitive gaming and our belief that esports is about excellence, whether it’s aim or intellect. This is a historic moment for both S8UL and Indian chess.”
— Animesh Agarwal aka 8Bit Thug, Co-founder & CEO, S8UL