Chess Grandmasters Team Up with Esports Giants

In February, the Esports world was set ablaze with excitement as several top-tier chess grandmasters signed with major esports organizations, gearing up for one of the largest global tournaments. Icons like Magnus Carlsen, Ian Nepomniachtchi, and Ding Liren are now poised to compete alongside professionals from Dota 2 and CS:GO at the upcoming Esports World Cup (EWC).

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 Esports World Cup (EWC) in Riyadh, set for 2025, will feature chess as an official discipline with a $1.5 million prize pool. This prestigious event, part of the annual gaming festival Gamers8, has expanded from five to 25 disciplines, showcasing Saudi Arabia's ambition to become the "global hub of esports" by 2030. Scheduled from June to August, the EWC offers a colossal $60 million prize pool and employs an overall standings system where clubs accumulate points across all disciplines. Last year, Team Falcons clinched the top spot, highlighting the importance of having a versatile team. Including chess players is a strategic move to maximize success across these diverse competitions.

Image: x.com

Who Signed With Whom?

Magnus Carlsen

**Team Liquid:** Magnus Carlsen
**FIDE Ranking:** 1
The 16-time World Champion, Magnus Carlsen, has joined Team Liquid, expressing his enthusiasm about partnering with the "biggest and best esports organization in the world." Carlsen views this collaboration as ideal, given his global recognition in chess. Steve Arhane, Co-CEO of Liquid, praised Carlsen as the "greatest chess player of all time," expressing honor in welcoming him to the team.

Ian Nepomniachtchi

**Aurora:** Ian Nepomniachtchi
**FIDE Ranking:** 9
Russia's top chess player, Ian Nepomniachtchi, has signed with Aurora Gaming. Renowned 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 excited to be part of an ambitious esports project.

Ding Liren

**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 to their roster for the Esports World Cup.

Fabiano Caruana

**Team Liquid:** Fabiano Caruana
**FIDE Ranking:** 2
Team Liquid has further strengthened its chess strategy by signing American grandmaster Fabiano Caruana on a three-year contract.

Hikaru Nakamura

**Falcons:** Hikaru Nakamura
**FIDE Ranking:** 3
Five-time U.S. Chess Champion and Twitch sensation Hikaru Nakamura has joined Team Falcons, adding significant star power to their lineup.

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

**Vitality:** Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
**FIDE Ranking:** 22
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

**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

**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.