The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has revealed Chess as the newest addition to the 16 games that national teams and players will contest in the first Esports Nations Cup 2026 (ENC), scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 2 to 29, 2026. Chess at ENC 2026 will feature an unmatched number of participants, enabling emerging talents and lesser-represented nations to compete on a prominent platform as the historically important game evolves into a larger esport.

Here’s all you should be aware of regarding Chess at ENC 2026:

SCHEDULE AND FORMAT

● The Chess tournament at ENC will begin on November 2, 2026, and will conclude with the playoff final on November 8, 2026.

● The opening portion of the tournament will consist of 128 players competing in a round-robin group stage, featuring 16 groups of eight players.

● The top four players from each group will advance to the next stage.

● The second stage will consist of 64 players competing in a single-elimination playoff bracket.

● All group stage matches will be best-of-two. All Round of 64 and 32 matches will be best-of-two, while the quarterfinals and beyond will be best-of-four.

● Armageddon games will be used as tie-breakers.

● The event will be played in a Rapid 10+0 time control format.

RANKING SYSTEM AND QUALIFIER INFO

● 128 players representing their respective nation will compete in the Chess event at ENC 2026:

○ 64 players from 64 nations will be directly invited based on the official Champions Chess Tour (CCT) rankings

○ 56 players will qualify through regional qualifiers

○ 8 players will come from Wildcard slots

● The Esports Nations Cup will determine its direct invites via the official CCT rankings, limited to one player per nation. The Titled Tuesday Spring Split will be used as an additional tie-breaker should there not be 64 unique nations featured in the CCT rankings. The cut-off date for determining direct invites to ENC 2026 is May 26, 2026.

● Chess will feature two regional qualifiers in each region, taking place on June 6-7 and June 13-14. Each Qualifier will consist of two stages; a Swiss stage and a double-elimination stage, with four players from each qualifier making it to ENC, giving a total of eight players per region. Qualifiers will be operated by Chess.com, and hosted in each of the following regions:

○ North America (8 slots)

○ South America (8)

○ Africa (8)

○ Western Europe (8)

○ Eastern Europe (8)

○ Middle East + India + Central Asia (8)

○ East Asia + Southeast Asia + Oceania (8)

● Every nation can have up to two representatives at the event. Should a nation have a player directly invited through the rankings, only one more player from that nation can make it through the regional qualifier. Nations without a direct invite can still have two players qualify online.

CHESS AT THE ESPORTS WORLD CUP

The post Chess Set to Make Its Debut at Esports Nations Cup 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Renowned iGaming content creator Spinomenal has launched its newest exciting venture, Volcano Power – Hold & Hit 3×3.

The 3×3 reels of Volcano Power – Hold & Hit 3×3 are enclosed in a glowing golden frame on a surface of lava, shimmering embers, and volcanic stones. From the initial spin, players are captivated by a powerful, exhilarating soundtrack that conjures the explosive energy of a volcanic eruption.

The Wild is symbolized by a Tiki Mask, which substitutes for all other symbols except for Bonus and Bonus Collect. In Volcano Power – Hold & Hit 3×3, there are two Special Bonus symbols in action: the Bonus shows up exclusively on reels one and three, whereas Bonus Collect is found solely on reel two.

The Bonus Game starts when Bonus symbols land on reels one and three with a Bonus Collect symbol on reel two. All the while, the symbols that triggered the feature remain fixed in position. Only Bonus and Bonus Collect icons can show up on the reels during the Bonus Game, commencing with three spins. Along with the potential to activate in-game jackpots, every spin presents an opportunity to earn multipliers of x1, x2, x5, x7, x10, and x15.

All Bonus Collect symbols accumulate the value of every Bonus symbol that appears, incorporating it into their ongoing total. The spin counter resets to three every time a new Bonus or Bonus Collect symbol appears. The round concludes after three consecutive losses or when the total prizes achieve the maximum x5000 multiplier.

While playing, in-game jackpot symbols such as Grand, Major, Minor, and Mini can appear and instantly grant the corresponding jackpot.

To accelerate access to the Bonus Game, the Bonus Blast Feature may occasionally trigger, spreading additional Bonus and Bonus Collect symbols over the reels.

Even when a Bonus Collect symbol doesn’t trigger the Bonus Game by appearing with one or more Bonus symbols, including in-game Jackpot symbols, it still gathers their values and directly adds them to the total win.

Spinomenal CO-CEO, Omer Henya commented: “Volcano Power – Hold & Hit 3×3 erupts onto the scene with explosive visuals, gripping gameplay, and massive win potential. We’ve designed a game that delivers heat from the first spin and keeps building toward fiery jackpots.”

The post Volcano Power — Hold & Hit 3×3 from Spinomenal appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

HIPTHER is proud to announce a new Media Partnership with Nightrush, officially launching alongside the highly anticipated HIPTHER Prague Summit 2026. The event will take place on 24–25 March 2026 at the OREA Hotel Andels Praha, bringing together leading voices from across Gaming and Technology.

Recognised as one of Europe’s premier boutique events for industry decision-makers, the Prague Summit unites professionals from iGaming, fintech, blockchain, AI, compliance, and digital innovation. Across two immersive days, attendees will engage in expert-led discussions, curated networking opportunities, and hands-on learning experiences designed to address the most pressing challenges and opportunities shaping regulated digital industries.

This new collaboration marks an important step in expanding industry dialogue and strengthening global connections within the iGaming ecosystem.

Strengthening Industry Connections Through Media Collaboration

Nightrush has rapidly established itself as a trusted media platform dedicated to connecting operators, providers, and players through in-depth content, expert reviews, industry news, and community-driven engagement. What began as a focused review platform has evolved into a dynamic hub that promotes collaboration, delivers practical insights, and supports responsible gambling initiatives across the wider iGaming landscape.

Under the leadership of Brand Manager Olesea Naidion, Nightrush continues to expand its influence within the global iGaming community. Olesea will also take the stage at Prague Summit 2026, sharing expertise on brand strategy, digital marketing, user acquisition, and long-term player loyalty.

Through this Media Partnership, HIPTHER and Nightrush will collaborate to amplify key industry conversations, increase visibility for thought leadership, and support meaningful engagement among stakeholders before, during, and beyond Prague Summit 2026.

Prague Summit 2026: Celebrating a Decade of Impact

Marking 10 years of impact across Gaming and Technology, the 2026 edition of the HIPTHER Prague Summit will feature its most ambitious programme to date. The event will host four dedicated stages, covering compliance, expert panels, strategic industry themes, and practical education through the HIPTHER Academy.

Attendees can expect:

• In-depth regulatory and compliance discussions

• Responsible Gaming and Player Safety sessions supported by international regulators

• High-level networking with operators, suppliers, innovators, and policymakers

• The prestigious GamingTECH CEE Awards 2026

Within this context, the partnership with Nightrush will play a key role in advancing knowledge sharing, fostering transparency, and supporting long-term growth across regulated digital industries.

A Shared Vision for the Future

HIPTHER and Nightrush are united by a shared vision: to build stronger connections across the iGaming community and enable collaboration that drives innovation, trust, and sustainable industry development.

The Media Partnership debuting at Prague Summit 2026 represents the start of a broader collaboration focused on year-round content creation, community engagement, and cross-industry dialogue—further strengthening the foundations of the global iGaming ecosystem.

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