‘I’d love players to be mobbed like IPL cricketers’: Esports eyes mainstream appeal

 At the Esports World Cup in Paris, chess has emerged as an unlikely test of how far esports can stretch. Mike McCabe explains why the game’s centuries-old appeal fits alongside digital titles, what Paris has proved about the EWC’s ability to travel, and why its future may depend on creating players with the recognition of IPL stars. His vision points to a broader shift in how esports defines games, audiences and sporting fame. At the Esports World Cup in Paris, chess has emerged as an unlikely test of how far esports can stretch. Mike McCabe explains why the game’s centuries-old appeal fits alongside digital titles, what Paris has proved about the EWC’s ability to travel, and why its future may depend on creating players with the recognition of IPL stars. His vision points to a broader shift in how esports defines games, audiences and sporting fame.