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. Magnus Carlsen, Ian Nepomniachtchi, and Ding Liren are poised to compete alongside established esports stars in the upcoming Esports World Cup (EWC).

Table of Contents

• Why the Chess Recruitment?
• Who Signed Where?
  • Magnus Carlsen
  • Ian Nepomniachtchi
  • Ding Liren
  • Fabiano Caruana
  • Hikaru Nakamura
  • Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
  • Volodar Murzin
  • Wesley So, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, and Alexander Botnik

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Why the Chess Recruitment?

The answer is simple: chess's 2025 debut as an official EWC discipline in Riyadh, boasting a $1.5 million prize pool. The EWC, held annually in Saudi Arabia, has grown from five to 25 disciplines, 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. Last year's winner, Team Falcons, exemplifies this winning strategy. Chess representation is now a crucial element for overall EWC success.

Who Signed Where?

Magnus Carlsen

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• Team: Team Liquid
• FIDE Ranking: 1
• The 16-time World Champion joins Team Liquid, viewing it as the perfect 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 Aurora's ambitious esports vision. His strong rapid chess skills are a valuable asset.

Ding Liren

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• Team: LGD
• FIDE Ranking: 17
• Despite a recent setback, the legendary Chinese esports club 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
• Five-time U.S. Champion and Twitch star Hikaru Nakamura adds significant star power to Team Falcons.

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

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

Volodar Murzin

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• Team: AG Global Esports
• FIDE Ranking: 70
• Volodar Murzin, recent winner of the 2024 World Rapid Championship, joins AG Global Esports, bolstering their rapid chess capabilities.

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 grandmasters Wesley So, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, and Alexander Botnik for the EWC.