In February, the esports community was buzzing with excitement as some of the world's top chess grandmasters made high-profile moves into major esports organizations. Grandmasters Magnus Carlsen, Ian Nepomniachtchi, and Ding Liren are now poised to compete alongside Dota 2 and CS:GO professionals at one of the largest global 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 reason is clear: in 2025, chess will debut as an official discipline at the Esports World Cup (EWC) in Riyadh, with a $1.5 million prize pool. The EWC, the premier global esports championship held annually in Saudi Arabia, has grown significantly since its inception as part of the Gamers8 festival, which initially featured just five disciplines: Dota 2, PUBG, Rocket League, FIFA, and CS:GO. Now, the event encompasses 25 disciplines, as Saudi Arabia aims to become the "global hub of esports" by 2030.
Scheduled from June to August 2025, the EWC offers a staggering $60 million prize pool. A unique feature of the competition is the overall standings system, where clubs earn points for finishing in the top eight across all disciplines. Last year, there were 16 winning spots, with Team Falcons emerging victorious. To maximize their chances of success, it's crucial for teams to have representation across all disciplines, including chess.
Who Signed With Whom?
Magnus Carlsen
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Team Liquid: Magnus Carlsen
FIDE Ranking: 1
The 16-time World Champion signed with Team Liquid, expressing excitement about joining the "biggest and best esports organization in the world." Carlsen sees the collaboration as a perfect fit for his status as one of the most recognized chess players globally. Steve Arhane, Co-CEO of Liquid, described Carlsen as the "greatest chess player of all time" and emphasized the honor of having him join their ranks.
Ian Nepomniachtchi
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Aurora: Ian Nepomniachtchi
FIDE Ranking: 9
Ian Nepomniachtchi, Russia's leading chess player, signed with Aurora Gaming. Known for his strong performance 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 welcomed Ding Liren to their roster for the Esports World Cup.
Fabiano Caruana
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Team Liquid: Fabiano Caruana
FIDE Ranking: 2
Liquid 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 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 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 Murzin
FIDE Ranking: 70
Eighteen-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 Botnik
FIDE Rankings: 11th, 6th, and 166th
NAVI bolstered its chess division by signing three grandmasters Wesley So, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, and Alexander Botnik for the EWC.
