Team GB sends two chess players to ENC 2026 in Riyadh

Team GB has qualified two chess players for the Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026 in Riyadh. The tournament runs from November 2 to 8.

Alex Golding secured the final Western Europe qualifying spot at the last EUQ event over the weekend. After losing his opening match to Swiss player Noah Fecker, Golding moved into the lower bracket, won a best-of-five series 3-2, then beat Spain’s Jonas Prado Lobo by reaching three points in four games with two wins and two draws.

Frederick Walhausen Gordon earned his place through the ENC project ranking. He is 42nd on the ENC ladder with a 0.994 points rating calculated from Champions Chess Tour Circuit Points. The ranking system grants a direct invitation to the top player from each of 64 nations.

At ENC 2026, players start in group stages. The top four from each group will advance to a 64-player second stage that uses a single-elimination bracket.

Golding and Gordon join a wider Team GB esports contingent that has already qualified players in Rainbow Six, Dota 2, Rocket League and Valorant. Upcoming chess events include a ChessFest at Trafalgar Square later this month and the Esports World Cup in Paris, a seven-week series featuring competitors such as Magnus Carlsen.