Chess Grandmasters Team Up with Esports Giants

In February, the Esports community was set ablaze with excitement as a wave of high-profile signings brought some of the world's top chess players into the fold of major esports organizations. Grandmasters such as Magnus Carlsen, Ian Nepomniachtchi, and Ding Liren are now poised to compete alongside Dota 2 and CS:GO professionals at one of the largest tournaments on the global stage.

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?

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The reason is clear: in 2025, chess will make its debut as an official discipline at the Esports World Cup (EWC) in Riyadh, with a staggering $1.5 million prize pool. The EWC stands as the premier global esports championship, having been held annually in Saudi Arabia over recent years.

Originally part of the Gamers8 gaming festival, which featured just five disciplines—Dota 2, PUBG, Rocket League, FIFA, and CS:GO—the event has since expanded to encompass 25 disciplines. Saudi Arabia's vision is to become the "global hub of esports" by 2030.

Scheduled from June to August 2025, the EWC offers a colossal $60 million prize pool. A unique feature of the competition is the overall standings system, where clubs earn points based on their top eight finishes across all disciplines. Last year, Team Falcons emerged victorious, securing one of the 16 winning spots. To optimize their chances of success, teams are eager to field competitors in every discipline, including chess.

Who Signed With Whom?

Magnus Carlsen

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Team Liquid: Magnus Carlsen
FIDE Ranking: 1
The 16-time World Champion has signed with Team Liquid, expressing his excitement about joining the "biggest and best esports organization in the world." Carlsen views this collaboration as an ideal match for his global recognition as a chess player. Steve Arhane, Co-CEO of Liquid, hailed Carlsen as the "greatest chess player of all time" and expressed the honor of having him on their team.

Ian Nepomniachtchi

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Aurora: Ian Nepomniachtchi
FIDE Ranking: 9
Russia's leading chess player, Ian Nepomniachtchi, has signed with Aurora Gaming. Known for his prowess 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 has 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 has 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 has 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 has become 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, has 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 has bolstered its chess division by signing three grandmasters—Wesley So, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, and Alexander Botnik—for the EWC.