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

February's esports landscape saw a seismic shift with top chess grandmasters joining major esports organizations. Magnus Carlsen, Ian Nepomniachtchi, and Ding Liren are poised to compete alongside established esports stars in the prestigious 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 driving force behind this influx of chess talent is simple: chess's 2025 debut as an official EWC discipline, boasting a $1.5 million prize pool. The EWC, held annually in Saudi Arabia, has rapidly expanded from its initial five disciplines (Dota 2, PUBG, Rocket League, FIFA, and CS:GO) to encompass 25, reflecting Saudi Arabia's ambition to become a global esports hub by 2030.

With a total prize pool of $60 million (June-August 2025), and a points system rewarding top-eight finishes across all disciplines, teams are strategically diversifying their rosters to maximize their chances of winning. Last year's victory by Team Falcons highlights the importance of a strong presence across all competitive areas.

Who Signed Where?

Magnus Carlsen

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• Team: Team Liquid
• FIDE Ranking: 1
• The 16-time World Champion joined Team Liquid, calling it a perfect fit for 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 joined Aurora Gaming, excited about chess's EWC inclusion and the ambitious project.

Ding Liren

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• Team: LGD
• FIDE Ranking: 17
• The legendary Chinese esports club LGD added Ding Liren to its roster despite his recent title match loss.

Fabiano Caruana

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• Team: Team Liquid
• FIDE Ranking: 2
• Team Liquid further strengthened its chess lineup with a three-year contract for American grandmaster Fabiano Caruana.

Hikaru Nakamura

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• Team: Team Falcons
• FIDE Ranking: 3
• The five-time U.S. Chess Champion and Twitch star brings significant star power to Team Falcons.

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

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• Team: Vitality
• FIDE Ranking: 22
• French grandmaster Maxime Vachier-Lagrave joined Vitality, a prominent organization 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.

Wesley So, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, and Alexander Botnik

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• Team: NAVI
• FIDE Rankings: 11th, 6th, and 166th respectively.
• NAVI significantly expanded its chess division with the signings of these three grandmasters.