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

February's esports landscape saw a seismic shift with top chess grandmasters signing with major esports organizations, setting the stage for a clash of titans at the Esports World Cup (EWC). Magnus Carlsen, Ian Nepomniachtchi, and Ding Liren are among those poised to compete alongside established esports professionals.

Table of Contents

• Why Esports Organizations Are 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 answer is simple: chess becomes an official EWC discipline in 2025, boasting a lucrative $1.5 million prize pool. The EWC, held annually in Saudi Arabia, is the pinnacle of global esports competition. Initially featuring only five games, it's expanded to 25, reflecting Saudi Arabia's ambition to become a global esports hub by 2030.

With a $60 million total prize pool and a points system rewarding top-eight finishes across all disciplines, teams are strategically diversifying their rosters. Chess, therefore, is a crucial addition to maximize their chances of overall victory in the June-August 2025 event.

Who Signed With Whom?

Magnus Carlsen

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• Team: Team Liquid
• FIDE Ranking: 1
• The 16-time World Champion joins Team Liquid, viewing it as the ideal partner given his global recognition. Team Liquid's Co-CEO hailed Carlsen as the greatest chess player of all time.

Ian Nepomniachtchi

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• Team: Aurora Gaming
• FIDE Ranking: 9
• Russia's top chess player joins Aurora Gaming, excited by chess's EWC inclusion and the ambitious nature of the project. His strong rapid chess skills are a key asset.

Ding Liren

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• Team: LGD
• FIDE Ranking: 17
• Despite a recent setback, the Chinese esports giant LGD welcomes Ding Liren to their EWC roster.

Fabiano Caruana

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• Team: Team Liquid
• FIDE Ranking: 2
• Team Liquid further strengthens its chess presence with a three-year contract for American grandmaster Fabiano Caruana.

Hikaru Nakamura

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• Team: Team Falcons
• FIDE Ranking: 3
• The five-time U.S. Champion and Twitch star brings significant name recognition to Team Falcons.

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

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• Team: Vitality
• FIDE Ranking: 22
• French grandmaster Maxime Vachier-Lagrave joins Vitality, a prominent esports organization known for its success in titles like CS:GO and Valorant.

Volodar Murzin

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• Team: AG Global Esports
• FIDE Ranking: 70
• Volodar Murzin, a recent World Rapid Championship winner, adds rapid chess expertise to AG Global Esports.

Wesley So, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, and Alexander Botnik

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• Team: NAVI
• FIDE Rankings: 11th, 6th, and 166th
• NAVI significantly expands its chess division by signing these three grandmasters for the EWC.