In February, the esports community was buzzing with excitement as some of the world's top chess grandmasters made high-profile moves to join major esports organizations. This strategic shift comes as chess is set to debut as an official discipline at the Esports World Cup (EWC) in Riyadh in 2025, with a substantial $1.5 million prize pool. Grandmasters like Magnus Carlsen, Ian Nepomniachtchi, and Ding Liren are now poised to compete alongside Dota 2 and CS:GO professionals at this prestigious global tournament.

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 inclusion of chess in the Esports World Cup (EWC) in 2025, with a $1.5 million prize pool, is a game-changer. The EWC, held annually in Saudi Arabia, has grown from featuring just five disciplines at its inception during the Gamers8 festival to now encompassing 25 disciplines. Saudi Arabia's vision is to become the "global hub of esports" by 2030. The EWC, scheduled from June to August 2025, offers a staggering $60 million total prize pool. A unique aspect of the competition is the overall standings system, where clubs earn points for top-eight finishes across all disciplines. Last year, Team Falcons clinched victory, highlighting the importance of having a diverse roster. With chess now part of the mix, esports organizations are eager to recruit top chess talent to maximize their chances of success.

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Who Signed With Whom?

Magnus Carlsen

Magnus Carlsen, the 16-time World Champion and currently ranked number one by FIDE, has signed with Team Liquid. Carlsen expressed his excitement about joining what he described as the "biggest and best esports organization in the world." He sees this collaboration as a perfect fit 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 their team.

Ian Nepomniachtchi

Ian Nepomniachtchi, Russia's leading chess player and ranked ninth by FIDE, has joined Aurora Gaming. Known for his prowess in rapid chess, including a third-place finish at the 2024 World Rapid Championship, Nepomniachtchi is thrilled about chess's inclusion in the EWC and eager to be part of an ambitious esports project.

Ding Liren

Despite a recent setback in his title match against Gukesh Dommaraju, Ding Liren, ranked 17th by FIDE, has been welcomed by the legendary Chinese esports club LGD to their roster for the Esports World Cup.

Fabiano Caruana

Team Liquid has further strengthened its chess division by signing American grandmaster Fabiano Caruana, ranked second by FIDE, on a three-year contract.

Hikaru Nakamura

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 lineup. He is currently ranked third by FIDE.

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

French grandmaster Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, ranked 22nd by FIDE, has signed with Vitality, a prominent French esports organization known for its competitive presence in games like CS:GO and Valorant.

Volodar Murzin

Eighteen-year-old Volodar Murzin, fresh off his victory at the 2024 World Rapid Championship and ranked 70th by FIDE, has signed with AG Global Esports, reinforcing their commitment to excelling in the rapid chess format.

Wesley So, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, and Alexander Botnik

NAVI has bolstered its chess division by signing three grandmasters: Wesley So (ranked 11th by FIDE), Nodirbek Abdusattorov (ranked 6th by FIDE), and Alexander Botnik (ranked 166th by FIDE) for the EWC.