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 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 lineup, esports organizations are eager to recruit top chess talent to maximize their chances of success.

Image: x.com

Who Signed With Whom?

Magnus Carlsen

**Team Liquid:** Magnus Carlsen
**FIDE Ranking:** 1
The 16-time World Champion, Magnus Carlsen, has signed with Team Liquid, expressing his excitement about joining what he considers the "biggest and best esports organization in the world." Carlsen views 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

**Aurora:** Ian Nepomniachtchi
**FIDE Ranking:** 9
Russia's leading chess player, Ian Nepomniachtchi, 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

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

Fabiano Caruana

**Team Liquid:** Fabiano Caruana
**FIDE Ranking:** 2
Team Liquid has doubled down on its chess strategy by signing American grandmaster Fabiano Caruana to 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.