Grandmasters Enter the Esports Arena: How Chess Joined Forces with Top Teams

February saw the esports world abuzz with major signings as top chess grandmasters joined leading esports organizations. Grandmasters Magnus Carlsen, Ian Nepomniachtchi, and Ding Liren are now poised to compete alongside Dota 2 and CS:GO professionals at one of the globe's largest tournaments.

Table of Contents

• Why Are Esports Organizations Recruiting Chess Players?
• Who Signed With Whom?
  • Magnus Carlsen
  • Ian Nepomniachtchi
  • Ding Liren
  • Fabiano Caruana
  • Hikaru Nakamura
  • Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
  • Volodar Murzin
  • Wesley So, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, and Alexander Botnik

Why Are Esports Organizations Recruiting Chess Players?

The answer is simple: 2025 marks chess's debut as an official Esports World Cup (EWC) discipline in Riyadh, boasting a $1.5 million prize pool. The EWC, held annually in Saudi Arabia, is the premier global esports championship.

Initially featuring just five disciplines (Dota 2, PUBG, Rocket League, FIFA, and CS:GO) as part of the Gamers8 gaming festival, the EWC has expanded significantly, now encompassing 25 disciplines. Saudi Arabia's ambitious goal is to become the "global hub of esports" by 2030.

Scheduled from June to August 2025, the EWC offers a massive $60 million prize pool. A key element is the overall standings system, where teams earn points for top-eight finishes across all disciplines. Last year, 16 teams secured winning spots, with Team Falcons emerging victorious. To maximize their chances, teams need representation across all disciplines, including chess.

Who Signed With Whom?

Magnus Carlsen

• Team: Team Liquid
• FIDE Ranking: 1 The 16-time World Champion joined Team Liquid, expressing his excitement about being part of a "biggest and best esports organization in the world." Carlsen views this as a perfect alignment with his global recognition. Team Liquid Co-CEO, Steve Arhane, called Carlsen the "greatest chess player of all time," highlighting the honor of his addition to their roster.

Ian Nepomniachtchi

• Team: Aurora
• FIDE Ranking: 9 Russia's top chess player, Ian Nepomniachtchi, signed with Aurora Gaming. Known for his rapid chess prowess, including a third-place finish at the 2024 World Rapid Championship, Nepomniachtchi welcomed chess's inclusion in the EWC and the opportunity to join this ambitious esports project.

Ding Liren

• Team: LGD
• FIDE Ranking: 17 Despite a recent setback in his title match against Gukesh Dommaraju, legendary Chinese esports club LGD added Ding Liren to their Esports World Cup roster.

Fabiano Caruana

• Team: Team Liquid
• FIDE Ranking: 2 Team Liquid further strengthened its chess division by signing American grandmaster Fabiano Caruana on a three-year contract.

Hikaru Nakamura

• Team: Team Falcons
• FIDE Ranking: 3 Five-time U.S. Chess Champion and Twitch star Hikaru Nakamura joined Team Falcons, significantly boosting their team's profile.

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

• Team: Vitality
• FIDE Ranking: 22 French grandmaster Maxime Vachier-Lagrave joined Vitality, a prominent French esports organization known for its success in games like CS:GO and Valorant.

Volodar Murzin

• Team: AG Global Esports
• FIDE Ranking: 70 Eighteen-year-old Volodar Murzin, victorious at the 2024 World Rapid Championship, signed with AG Global Esports, reinforcing their commitment to rapid chess.

Wesley So, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, and Alexander Botnik

• Team: NAVI
• FIDE Rankings: 11th, 6th, and 166th respectively. NAVI expanded its chess lineup by signing grandmasters Wesley So, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, and Alexander Botnik for the EWC.