In February, the esports world was set ablaze with excitement as several top chess grandmasters made high-profile moves to join major esports organizations. This strategic shift comes in anticipation of chess making its debut at the Esports World Cup (EWC) in 2025. Grandmasters such as Magnus Carlsen, Ian Nepomniachtchi, and Ding Liren are now gearing up to compete alongside professional Dota 2 and CS:GO players at one of the globe's largest tournaments.
Why Are Esports Organizations Recruiting Chess Players?
The answer is clear: chess will become an official discipline at the Esports World Cup (EWC) in Riyadh in 2025, boasting a significant $1.5 million prize pool. The EWC, known as the premier global esports championship held annually in Saudi Arabia, has grown from featuring just five disciplines at its inception during the Gamers8 festival to now encompassing 25 diverse disciplines. Saudi Arabia's vision is to become the "global hub of esports" by 2030.
The EWC, scheduled from June to August 2025, will offer a staggering $60 million total prize pool. A key aspect of the competition is its overall standings system, where clubs accumulate points for finishing in the top eight across all disciplines. Last year, 16 winning spots were up for grabs, with Team Falcons emerging victorious. To enhance their prospects of success, teams are keen on having representatives in all disciplines, including chess.
Who Signed With Whom?
Magnus Carlsen
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**Team Liquid:** Magnus Carlsen
**FIDE Ranking:** 1
The 16-time World Champion has signed with Team Liquid, expressing his excitement about joining the "biggest and best esports organization in the world." Carlsen views this collaboration as a perfect fit for his status as one of the most recognized chess players globally. Steve Arhane, Co-CEO of Liquid, hailed Carlsen as the "greatest chess player of all time" and expressed honor at his inclusion in their ranks.
Ian Nepomniachtchi
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**Aurora:** Ian Nepomniachtchi
**FIDE Ranking:** 9
Ian Nepomniachtchi, Russia's leading chess player, has signed with Aurora Gaming. Renowned for his prowess in rapid chess, including a third-place finish at the 2024 World Rapid Championship, Nepomniachtchi lauded the inclusion of chess in the EWC and expressed enthusiasm for being part of an ambitious esports project.
Ding Liren
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**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
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**Team Liquid:** Fabiano Caruana
**FIDE Ranking:** 2
Team Liquid has doubled down on its chess strategy by signing another top-tier player, American grandmaster Fabiano Caruana, on a three-year contract.
Hikaru Nakamura
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**Falcons:** Hikaru Nakamura
**FIDE Ranking:** 3
Five-time U.S. Chess Champion and Twitch sensation Hikaru Nakamura has joined Team Falcons, adding star power to their lineup.
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
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**Vitality:** Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
**FIDE Ranking:** 22
The 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
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**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
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**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.
