Chess Grandmasters Join Esports Teams

February saw the esports world buzzing with excitement as top chess players signed with major esports organizations. Grandmasters Magnus Carlsen, Ian Nepomniachtchi, and Ding Liren are now poised to compete alongside Dota 2 and CS:GO professionals in one of the world's largest 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 debut as an official discipline at the Esports World Cup (EWC) in Riyadh, boasting a $1.5 million prize pool. The EWC, held annually in Saudi Arabia, is the premier global esports championship.

Initially featuring only Dota 2, PUBG, Rocket League, FIFA, and CS:GO as part of the Gamers8 gaming festival, the EWC has expanded significantly to include 25 disciplines. Saudi Arabia's ambitious goal is to become the "global hub of esports" by 2030.

Scheduled from June to August 2025, the EWC offers a massive $60 million prize pool. Crucially, the competition uses an overall standings system, awarding points to clubs for top-eight finishes across all disciplines. To maximize their chances of winning, teams need strong 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, thrilled to be part of what he calls "the biggest and best esports organization in the world." 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, Ian Nepomniachtchi, signed with Aurora Gaming. Known for his rapid chess prowess (including a 3rd place finish at the 2024 World Rapid Championship), he's excited about chess's inclusion in the EWC.

Ding Liren

• Team: LGD
• FIDE Ranking: 17 Despite a recent setback in his title match, legendary Chinese esports club LGD welcomed Ding Liren to their roster for the Esports World Cup.

Fabiano Caruana

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

Hikaru Nakamura

• Team: 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, victorious at the 2024 World Rapid Championship, 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 their chess division by signing grandmasters Wesley So, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, and Alexander Botnik for the EWC.