Chess Grandmasters Join Esports Teams

February saw the esports world ablaze with excitement as top chess grandmasters signed with major esports organizations. Chess giants Magnus Carlsen, Ian Nepomniachtchi, and Ding Liren are now set to compete alongside Dota 2 and CS:GO professionals at the Esports World Cup (EWC), one of the largest tournaments globally.

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 massive $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, the EWC has exploded in size, now encompassing 25 disciplines. Saudi Arabia's ambitious goal is to become the "global hub of esports" by 2030.

Scheduled for June to August 2025, the EWC offers a staggering $60 million prize pool. Crucially, the competition uses an overall standings system, awarding points to teams finishing in the top eight across all disciplines. Last year, Team Falcons emerged victorious among 16 winning spots. To maximize their chances, teams need strong 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, thrilled to be part of what he calls "the biggest and best esports organization in the world." He sees this collaboration as a perfect fit, given his global recognition. Team Liquid Co-CEO, Steve Arhane, hailed Carlsen as 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 expressed excitement about joining 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 their chess strategy 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 lineup.

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, fresh from his 2024 World Rapid Championship victory, 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 their chess division by signing grandmasters Wesley So, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, and Alexander Botnik for the EWC.