The fourth and final Play-In of the Chess.com Open, the last gateway to the Esports World Cup, delivered exactly what it promised: surprises, brilliant games, and a finish that kept everyone on edge until the very last moment.

At the end of it all, one name stood above the rest: Nihal Sarin.

🌟 Nihal's Momentum Continues

Sarin's victory is not a surprise, but it is still impressive.

The Indian star secured first place with a dominant 7/9, capping off what has been an outstanding month in online chess. Just days after winning his first Titled Tuesday, he confirmed his form by taking full control of this final Play-In.

Confident, precise, and consistent — Sarin never really let the tournament slip out of his hands.

Following his victory, he chose to face Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in the next stage, setting up one of the most exciting matchups to come.

🔥 The Real Surprise: Shant Sargsyan

While the winner may have been expected, the real story unfolded just behind him.

Shant Sargsyan delivered one of the standout performances of the event. The Armenian grandmaster finished third with 7/9, already proving his strength with wins against top players like Dmitry Andreikin.

But his run did not stop there.

In the playoff, Sargsyan faced young French IM Marco Materia in a tense mini-match. After two draws, everything came down to Armageddon, where Sargsyan held his nerve and won with White, securing qualification and a future clash with Magnus Carlsen.

A breakthrough moment.

🚀 Marco Materia: A Star is Born

If there is one player who truly stole the spotlight, it is Marco Materia.

Born in 2009, the French talent entered the tournament as an underdog and left it as one of the biggest stories of the event.

He finished with an incredible 7/9, including a huge win against Wesley So, earning his spot in the playoff. His run also featured victories against:

  • Luca Moroni Jr
  • Former European Champion Aleksandar Indjic
  • Andrew Hong

Along with solid draws against Artemiev and Sarana.

This was not just a good tournament.
This was a statement.

Many will also remember his fearless game against Magnus Carlsen at the 2025 World Blitz Championship, and this performance only reinforces the feeling that we are witnessing the rise of something special.

♟️ Just Outside the Podium

Right behind the top finishers, two elite names delivered strong performances:

  • Volodar Murzin, former Rapid World Champion
  • Levon Aronian

Murzin, in particular, produced one of the most dramatic games of the tournament against Hans Niemann — a battle worth revisiting move by move.

🎬 Games You Should Watch

Some games from this Play-In deserve your full attention:

  • Levon Aronian vs Leon Mendonca — A brilliant attacking display from Aronian
  • Volodar Murzin vs Hans Niemann — A tense and dramatic fight between two top players

These are the kinds of games that remind you why online elite chess can be just as thrilling as any over-the-board event.

🚨 What Comes Next

With this final Play-In completed, the qualification phase is officially over.

Now, the tournament moves into the knockout stage, where every match matters, every mistake is fatal, and every win brings players one step closer to the Esports World Cup.

💭 So, who takes it from here?

The stage is set.