Chess Grandmasters Team Up with Esports Giants

In February, the esports community was buzzing with excitement as some of the world's top chess grandmasters made high-profile moves to join major esports organizations. This strategic shift comes ahead of chess's debut as an official discipline at the Esports World Cup (EWC) in Riyadh in 2025, which boasts a $1.5 million prize pool. Grandmasters Magnus Carlsen, Ian Nepomniachtchi, and Ding Liren are now set to compete alongside Dota 2 and CS:GO professionals at this prestigious global tournament.

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 inclusion of chess in the Esports World Cup (EWC) in 2025, with a $1.5 million prize pool, is a game-changer. The EWC, held annually in Saudi Arabia, has grown from featuring just five disciplines at its inception during the Gamers8 festival to now encompassing 25 disciplines. Saudi Arabia's vision is to become the "global hub of esports" by 2030. The EWC, scheduled from June to August 2025, offers a staggering $60 million prize pool and an overall standings system where clubs earn points for top-eight finishes across all disciplines. Last year, Team Falcons clinched victory, highlighting the importance of having a diverse roster to maximize success. This is why esports organizations are eager to recruit top chess players.

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Who Signed With Whom?

Magnus Carlsen

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Team Liquid: Magnus Carlsen
FIDE Ranking: 1
The 16-time World Champion, Magnus Carlsen, has signed with Team Liquid, expressing his excitement about joining what he considers the "biggest and best esports organization in the world." Carlsen views this collaboration as a perfect fit for his status as one of the most recognized chess players globally. Steve Arhane, Co-CEO of Liquid, hailed Carlsen as the "greatest chess player of all time" and expressed the honor of having him on their team.

Ian Nepomniachtchi

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Aurora: Ian Nepomniachtchi
FIDE Ranking: 9
Ian Nepomniachtchi, Russia's leading chess player, has signed with Aurora Gaming. Known for his prowess in rapid chess, including a third-place finish at the 2024 World Rapid Championship, Nepomniachtchi praised the inclusion of chess in the EWC and expressed enthusiasm about joining an ambitious esports project.

Ding Liren

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

Fabiano Caruana

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Team Liquid: Fabiano Caruana
FIDE Ranking: 2
Team Liquid has doubled down on its chess strategy by signing another top-tier player, American grandmaster Fabiano Caruana, on a three-year contract.

Hikaru Nakamura

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Falcons: Hikaru Nakamura
FIDE Ranking: 3
Five-time U.S. Chess Champion and Twitch sensation Hikaru Nakamura has joined Team Falcons, adding star power to their lineup.

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

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Vitality: Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
FIDE Ranking: 22
The French grandmaster Maxime Vachier-Lagrave has become the latest addition to Vitality, a prominent French esports organization known for its competitive presence in games like CS:GO and Valorant.

Volodar Murzin

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AG Global Esports: Volodar Murzin
FIDE Ranking: 70
Eighteen-year-old Volodar Murzin, fresh off his victory at the 2024 World Rapid Championship, has signed with AG Global Esports, reinforcing their commitment to excelling in the rapid chess format.

Wesley So, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, and Alexander Botnik

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NAVI: Wesley So, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, and Alexander Botnik
FIDE Rankings: 11th, 6th, and 166th
NAVI has bolstered its chess division by signing three grandmasters: Wesley So, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, and Alexander Botnik for the EWC.