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

February's esports scene saw a flurry of high-profile signings as top chess grandmasters joined major esports organizations. Magnus Carlsen, Ian Nepomniachtchi, and Ding Liren are now poised to compete alongside established 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?

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The answer is simple: chess becomes an official Esports World Cup (EWC) discipline in 2025, boasting a $1.5 million prize pool. The EWC, held annually in Saudi Arabia, is the premier global esports championship. Initially featuring only five games (Dota 2, PUBG, Rocket League, FIFA, and CS:GO), it's expanded to 25 disciplines, reflecting Saudi Arabia's ambition to become a global esports hub by 2030.

The EWC, running June-August 2025, offers a massive $60 million prize pool. Teams earn points based on top-eight finishes across all disciplines, maximizing the importance of diverse team rosters. This strategic shift necessitates chess representation for a strong overall team ranking.

Who Signed With Whom?

Magnus Carlsen

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• Team: Team Liquid
• FIDE Ranking: 1
• The 16-time World Champion joined Team Liquid, excited to be part of a leading esports organization. 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 joined Aurora Gaming, enthusiastic about chess's EWC inclusion and the ambitious esports project.

Ding Liren

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

Fabiano Caruana

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• Team: Team Liquid
• FIDE Ranking: 2
• Team Liquid further strengthened their chess division with a three-year contract signing of 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 joined Team Falcons, boosting their team's profile.

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

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

Volodar Murzin

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• Team: AG Global Esports
• FIDE Ranking: 70
• Eighteen-year-old Volodar Murzin, a 2024 World Rapid Championship winner, signed with AG Global Esports, strengthening 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 expanded their chess lineup by signing grandmasters Wesley So, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, and Alexander Botnik for the EWC.