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

February saw a seismic shift in the esports world as top chess grandmasters joined forces with major esports organizations. Chess giants 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 globe's most prestigious 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 official debut as an EWC discipline in Riyadh, boasting a lucrative $1.5 million prize pool. The EWC, held annually in Saudi Arabia, has evolved significantly since its inception as part of the Gamers8 festival. Initially featuring only five disciplines (Dota 2, PUBG, Rocket League, FIFA, and CS:GO), it now encompasses a remarkable 25, reflecting Saudi Arabia's ambitious goal of becoming the global esports hub by 2030.

Scheduled from June to August 2025, the EWC offers a staggering $60 million prize pool. Crucially, the competition utilizes an overall standings system, awarding points to clubs finishing in the top eight across all disciplines. To maximize their chances of winning, teams are actively seeking 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 collaborating with what he considers the world's leading esports organization. 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 3rd-place finish at the 2024 World Rapid Championship), joined Aurora Gaming, enthusiastic about chess's inclusion in the EWC.

Ding Liren

• Team: LGD
• FIDE Ranking: 17
• Despite a recent setback in his title match, the Chinese esports powerhouse LGD welcomed Ding Liren to their roster.

Fabiano Caruana

• Team: Team Liquid
• FIDE Ranking: 2
• Team Liquid further strengthened their chess lineup with the signing of American grandmaster Fabiano Caruana on a three-year contract.

Hikaru Nakamura

• Team: Falcons
• FIDE Ranking: 3
• Five-time U.S. Chess Champion and Twitch star Hikaru Nakamura brings significant 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 CS:GO and Valorant.

Volodar Murzin

• Team: AG Global Esports
• FIDE Ranking: 70
• Eighteen-year-old Volodar Murzin, a recent World Rapid Championship winner, 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 with the additions of grandmasters Wesley So, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, and Alexander Botnik.