Chess Grandmasters Team Up with Esports Giants

February marked an exhilarating period for the Esports community as top-tier chess grandmasters signed with major esports organizations, setting the stage for their participation in one of the world's largest tournaments. Grandmasters Magnus Carlsen, Ian Nepomniachtchi, and Ding Liren will now compete alongside Dota 2 and CS:GO professionals at the Esports World Cup (EWC).

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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 0 0 Comment on this Why Are Esports Organizations Recruiting Chess Players?

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The rationale behind recruiting chess players is clear: in 2025, chess will make its debut as an official discipline at the Esports World Cup (EWC) in Riyadh, with a significant $1.5 million prize pool. The EWC, a premier global esports championship, has been held annually in Saudi Arabia and has grown from featuring just five disciplines (Dota 2, PUBG, Rocket League, FIFA, and CS:GO) to now encompassing 25. Saudi Arabia's vision is to become the "global hub of esports" by 2030.

Scheduled from June to August 2025, the EWC will offer a staggering $60 million prize pool. The competition includes an overall standings system, where clubs earn points for finishing in the top eight across all disciplines. Last year, 16 teams clinched winning spots, with Team Falcons emerging victorious. To optimize their chances of success, teams are keen on having representation in all disciplines, including chess.

Who Signed With Whom?

Magnus Carlsen

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Team Liquid: Magnus CarlsenFIDE Ranking: 1The 16-time World Champion, Magnus Carlsen, signed with Team Liquid, expressing his excitement about joining what he considers the "biggest and best esports organization in the world." Carlsen sees this collaboration as a perfect fit for his global chess stature. Steve Arhane, Co-CEO of Liquid, praised Carlsen as the "greatest chess player of all time" and expressed honor in having him join their ranks.

Ian Nepomniachtchi

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

Ding Liren

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

Fabiano Caruana

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Team Liquid: Fabiano CaruanaFIDE Ranking: 2Team Liquid bolstered its chess strategy by signing American grandmaster Fabiano Caruana on a three-year contract.

Hikaru Nakamura

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Falcons: Hikaru NakamuraFIDE Ranking: 3The five-time U.S. Chess Champion and Twitch sensation, Hikaru Nakamura, joined Team Falcons, bringing star power to their lineup.

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

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Vitality: Maxime Vachier-LagraveFIDE Ranking: 22The French grandmaster, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, became 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 MurzinFIDE Ranking: 70Eighteen-year-old Volodar Murzin, fresh off his victory at the 2024 World Rapid Championship, 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 BotnikFIDE Rankings: 11th, 6th, and 166thNAVI strengthened its chess division by signing three grandmasters—Wesley So, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, and Alexander Botnik—for the EWC.