Four grandmasters punched their tickets to the Esports World Cup Play-in by winning at DreamHack Atlanta 2026. Aravindh Chithambaram, Andrey Esipenko, Liem Le, and Alexey Sarana emerged from the competition to secure spots in the playoff bracket.
The Play-in itself will be competitive. These four winners will face four more qualifiers who earned their berths through other pathways, likely additional qualifying tournaments or rankings. The field shapes up as a genuine eight-player battle for advancement to the main Esports World Cup event.
DreamHack Atlanta delivered on its promise as a major qualifying venue. The tournament drew strong competition and produced clear winners who demonstrated they belong in the next stage. Esipenko and Sarana bring serious classical credentials to the esports arena. Aravindh and Liem Le represent the next generation of Asian talent making waves in online chess.
The Play-in format means nobody's journey is guaranteed. These four will need to maintain form and navigate the bracket carefully. One strong tournament performance isn't enough to guarantee advancement past eight determined opponents, several of whom will have legitimate claims on top-level play themselves.
The 2026 Esports World Cup is shaping up as a competitive affair. Chess.com's investment in esports continues to grow the ecosystem and attract elite players to the online format.