In February, the esports community was buzzing with excitement as several top chess grandmasters made high-profile moves to join major esports organizations. This development sets the stage for their participation alongside Dota 2 and CS:GO professionals at one of the world's largest tournaments.
Table of Content ---
- 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?
Image: x.com
The inclusion of chess as an official discipline at the Esports World Cup (EWC) in Riyadh in 2025, with a $1.5 million prize pool, is the driving force behind this trend. The EWC, held annually in Saudi Arabia, has evolved from the Gamers8 festival, which initially featured only five disciplines: Dota 2, PUBG, Rocket League, FIFA, and CS:GO. Now, the event spans 25 disciplines, reflecting Saudi Arabia's ambition to become the "global hub of esports" by 2030.
The EWC, scheduled from June to August 2025, offers a massive $60 million prize pool. A unique feature of the tournament is its overall standings system, where teams accumulate points based on their performance across all disciplines. Last year, Team Falcons emerged as the overall winner, highlighting the importance of having a robust lineup across all categories, including chess.
Who Signed With Whom?
Magnus Carlsen
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Team Liquid: Magnus Carlsen
FIDE Ranking: 1
The 16-time World Champion, Magnus Carlsen, has signed with Team Liquid, expressing his enthusiasm about joining what he describes as the "biggest and best esports organization in the world." Carlsen believes this collaboration is a perfect match for his global recognition in chess. Steve Arhane, Co-CEO of Liquid, hailed Carlsen as the "greatest chess player of all time" and expressed the honor of having him on board.
Ian Nepomniachtchi
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Aurora: Ian Nepomniachtchi
FIDE Ranking: 9
Ian Nepomniachtchi, Russia's top chess player, has signed with Aurora Gaming. Known for his prowess in rapid chess, including a third-place finish at the 2024 World Rapid Championship, Nepomniachtchi is excited about the inclusion of chess in the EWC and joining an ambitious esports initiative.
Ding Liren
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LGD: Ding Liren
FIDE Ranking: 17
Despite a recent setback in his title match against Gukesh Dommaraju, Ding Liren has been welcomed by the legendary Chinese esports club LGD for the Esports World Cup.
Fabiano Caruana
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Team Liquid: Fabiano Caruana
FIDE Ranking: 2
Team Liquid further strengthened its chess lineup by signing American grandmaster Fabiano Caruana on a three-year contract.
Hikaru Nakamura
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Falcons: Hikaru Nakamura
FIDE Ranking: 3
Hikaru Nakamura, a five-time U.S. Chess Champion and a popular figure on Twitch, has joined Team Falcons, adding significant star power to their roster.
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
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Vitality: Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
FIDE Ranking: 22
French grandmaster Maxime Vachier-Lagrave has become the latest addition to Vitality, a well-known French esports organization with a strong 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, who recently won the 2024 World Rapid Championship, has signed with AG Global Esports, reinforcing their focus on 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 enhanced its chess division by signing three grandmasters: Wesley So, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, and Alexander Botnik for the EWC.
