Mike McCabe says chess at Esports World Cup in Paris tests esports' bid for mainstream appeal

Mike McCabe wrote that at the Esports World Cup in Paris, chess emerged as an unlikely test of how far esports can stretch, in an article published on 14 August 2026.

He explains that the game's centuries-old appeal fits alongside digital titles, that Paris has proved the Esports World Cup's ability to travel, and that the event's future may depend on creating players with the recognition of IPL stars. McCabe's vision points to a broader shift in how esports defines games, audiences and sporting fame.