Chess players now have a great reason to go to Atlanta. Another qualification path to the Esports World Cup (EWC) goes through the DreamHack chess event in Atlanta. The event takes place from May 15 to 17 and offers not only a $50,000 prize fund but also four spots at the coveted EWC.
The event is open to all chess players, professional or amateur, attending the next DreamHack festival at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, United States. To play in the event, players must register online by May 11 at 11:59 p.m. ET and attend the event in person.
DreamHack is the world’s leading global gaming lifestyle festival. What started as a local gathering for gamers eventually grew into the world’s largest digital festival. With a legion of fans attending every year, the festival is a global esports calendar highlight.
Starting in 2025, DreamHack became a bridge between chess and the esports world. That year, the Dallas festival served as a qualifying path to the EWC Last Chance Qualifier. With 62 registered players, GM Oleksandr Bortnyk eventually took first place. Along with Bortnyk, the other four finalists, GMs Alexey Sarana, Aravindh Chithambaram, and Andrew Tang, all won expense-paid trips to Riyadh for the EWC Last Chance Qualifier.
This year, players can once more use DreamHack as a stepping stone to the EWC, as the four finalists will qualify for the event. With an increased prize fund of $50,000, which includes a first-place prize of $15,000, the stakes are higher than ever.
The chess competition at DreamHack Atlanta will consist of eight qualifiers followed by a knockout final. Each qualifier will be a seven-round Swiss, with the top two finishers advancing to the final. The winner of each Swiss goes straight to the Upper Bracket, while the second-place finisher goes to the Lower Bracket. The final will be a double-elimination bracket played out through the end. The time control will be 10+0 throughout the entire event.
As the EWC draws closer, time is running out for players hoping to earn a place in Riyadh. With most qualification spots already tied to the Speed Chess Championship, Chess.com Open, and Champions Chess Tour, DreamHack looms as a crucial opportunity for anyone still chasing an EWC spot.
Do you want to join the action and compete in DreamHack Atlanta? Then register now!
