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

February saw the esports world abuzz with major signings as top chess players joined prominent esports organizations. Grandmasters Magnus Carlsen, Ian Nepomniachtchi, and Ding Liren are now poised to compete alongside Dota 2 and CS:GO professionals at the Esports World Cup (EWC), one of the largest global esports 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 discipline at the Esports World Cup (EWC) in Riyadh, boasting a $1.5 million prize pool. The EWC, held annually in Saudi Arabia, is the premier global esports championship. Initially featuring only five disciplines (Dota 2, PUBG, Rocket League, FIFA, and CS:GO) as part of the Gamers8 gaming festival, it has expanded significantly to encompass 25 disciplines. Saudi Arabia's ambition 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 crucial element is the overall standings system, where teams earn points for top-eight finishes across all disciplines. Last year, sixteen 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 sixteen-time World Champion joined Team Liquid, expressing his enthusiasm about being part of a leading esports organization. He sees the partnership as a perfect fit, given his global recognition. Team Liquid's Co-CEO, Steve Arhane, hailed Carlsen as the "greatest chess player of all time."

Ian Nepomniachtchi

• Team: Aurora
• FIDE Ranking: 9 Russia's top chess player, known for his rapid chess prowess (including a third-place finish at the 2024 World Rapid Championship), joined Aurora Gaming, excited about chess's inclusion in the EWC and the ambitious esports project.

Ding Liren

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

Fabiano Caruana

• Team: Team Liquid
• FIDE Ranking: 2 Team Liquid further strengthened its chess lineup 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, adding significant star power.

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 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, bolstering their rapid chess capabilities.

Wesley So, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, and Alexander Botnik

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