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 prominent esports organizations. Magnus Carlsen, Ian Nepomniachtchi, and Ding Liren are now poised to compete alongside Dota 2 and CS:GO professionals in one of the world'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 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 just five disciplines (Dota 2, PUBG, Rocket League, FIFA, and CS:GO) as part of the Gamers8 gaming festival, the EWC has expanded dramatically to encompass 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 staggering $60 million prize pool. Crucially, a points system based on top-eight finishes across all disciplines determines overall standings. To maximize their chances of winning, teams need strong representation in every discipline, 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 partnering with "the biggest and best esports organization in the world." Team Liquid's Co-CEO, Steve Arhane, called Carlsen 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, embracing the EWC's inclusion of chess.

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.

Fabiano Caruana

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

Hikaru Nakamura

• Team: Falcons
• FIDE Ranking: 3 Five-time U.S. Chess Champion and Twitch star Hikaru Nakamura added his considerable star power to Team Falcons.

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, 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 roster by signing grandmasters Wesley So, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, and Alexander Botnik for the EWC.