Chess.com & Magnus Carlsen Revamp Titled Tuesday — Now a Qualifier for Esports World Cup 2026

Magnus Carlsen

Chess.com has officially teamed up with Magnus Carlsen’s Oslo-based chess platform Take Take Take to give its weekly online blitz tournament, "Titled Tue$day", a major makeover.

The partnership will not only bring a fresh competitive structure but also turn the event into a direct qualification route for the 2026 Esports World Cup (EWC).

The move is designed to push chess further into the esports spotlight, with an emphasis on stronger narratives, higher production value, and a league-like feel. Fans can expect bigger prize pools, a new broadcast studio, and live coverage hosted by Grandmaster David Howell alongside sports presenter Kaja Snare — making the tournament more engaging for both hardcore chess followers and casual viewers.

Magnus Carlsen, co-founder of Take Take Take, expressed his excitement about the overhaul, noting that the new format and live coverage will create the kind of atmosphere competitive chess deserves. “With the new format, prize structure, and live broadcasts, it’s going to be even more exciting to play in and to follow,” Carlsen said. He added that the aim is to turn Titled Tuesday into something comparable to the “Premier League of Chess,” with top players competing week after week.

Carlsen’s involvement comes at a high point in his career. Earlier this month, he won the EWC 2025 Chess Championship with Team Liquid, defeating Team Falcons’ Alireza Firouzja in the Grand Final. As the Chess Ambassador for this year’s EWC, Carlsen has been instrumental in boosting the game’s popularity, with online tournaments drawing hundreds of thousands of live viewers worldwide.

The revamped Titled Tuesday will officially kick off on September 2nd and will adopt a three-split format, each lasting 13 weeks. The first split will end in November, followed by the second in February, and the last one in late spring. Each split will crown its own champion while building into a larger seasonal narrative — similar to how major esports leagues structure their competitions.

Importantly, the tournament has been confirmed as a direct qualifier for the 2026 Esports World Cup, tying in with Chess.com’s broader competitive ecosystem that now integrates Titled Tuesday, the Speed Chess Championship, and the Chess.com Global Championship.

Founded in 2023, Take Take Take is a fast-growing chess platform built to make the game more accessible and entertaining. With a small but dedicated team of 13, the company has already secured $5.5m in seed funding from Skyfall Ventures, SNÖ Ventures, and Coatue Management, among others. The platform focuses on creating engaging content and offering real-time match insights, all while working toward turning chess into a dynamic spectator sport.