A split-second technical error brought a crushing end to one competitor’s dreams at the inaugural Esports World Cup chess tournament, where $1.5 million hung in the balance and the world’s elite players competed for supremacy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
According to a recent video, Polish grandmaster Jan-Krzysztof Duda found himself eliminated from the prestigious event after what chess players know as a “mouse slip.” The incident occurred during a decisive third game against Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov, with both players having split their previous two matches in the best-of-three elimination round.
The match was finely balanced with neither player holding a significant advantage when disaster struck. Duda intended to advance a pawn two squares forward—a standard opening move—but his mouse betrayed him at the worst possible moment. Instead of executing his planned strategy, the misclick registered as a single-square pawn advance, fundamentally altering the position and handing Abdusattorov a crucial tactical advantage.
The psychological impact was immediate and devastating. Recognizing that his unintended move had shifted the game irreversibly in his opponent’s favor, Duda made the difficult decision to resign rather than play out a losing position.
This tournament marked a significant milestone as the first chess competition in Esports World Cup history. It featured 16 of the world’s finest players to compete for the substantial prize pool, with $250,000 reserved for the eventual champion. Among the field was Magnus Carlsen, the sport’s most recognizable figure and holder of the highest FIDE rating in chess history alongside other world-class competitors.
The format proved unforgiving, with only eight players advancing from the group stage to the single-elimination bracket. Duda had reached this crucial juncture after falling to Carlsen in an earlier match. This set up his do-or-die encounter with Abdusattorov for one of the remaining quarterfinal spots.
While traditional chess has maintained its core essence for centuries, the digital evolution of the game has introduced new challenges. Online chess platforms have revolutionized how players train and compete, allowing global competition from anywhere with an internet connection. However, this technological advancement comes with its own perils, as Duda discovered in the most painful way possible.
In traditional over-the-board play, such a mistake would be impossible—a player’s physical movement of pieces leaves no room for accidental inputs. But digitally, even the steadiest hands can fall victim to hardware failures or momentary lapses in precision.
Abdusattorov’s advancement proved short-lived, as he subsequently fell to Alireza Firouzja in the quarterfinals. The tournament continued its dramatic progression, with Firouzja earning a semifinal berth and positioning himself for a shot at the substantial winner’s prize.