In February, the esports community was buzzing with excitement as several top chess players signed with major esports organizations, preparing to compete alongside Dota 2 and CS:GO professionals at one of the world's largest tournaments. Grandmasters Magnus Carlsen, Ian Nepomniachtchi, and Ding Liren are set to showcase their skills on the global stage.
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The inclusion of chess in esports is a strategic move, especially with its debut as an official discipline at the 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC) in Riyadh, where a $1.5 million prize pool awaits. The EWC, held annually in Saudi Arabia, has grown from a modest event featuring just five disciplines to a massive competition spanning 25 disciplines. Saudi Arabia's vision to become the "global hub of esports" by 2030 fuels this expansion.
Scheduled from June to August 2025, the EWC offers a total prize pool of $60 million. The competition features an innovative overall standings system, rewarding clubs with points for top-eight finishes across all disciplines. Last year, Team Falcons emerged victorious among the 16 winning spots. To excel in such a diverse competition, teams are eager to have strong representation in every discipline, including chess.
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Team Liquid: Magnus CarlsenFIDE Ranking: 1The 16-time World Champion, Magnus Carlsen, has joined Team Liquid, expressing his enthusiasm about becoming part of the "biggest and best esports organization in the world." Carlsen believes this partnership aligns perfectly with 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," emphasizing the honor of having him on their team.
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Aurora: Ian NepomniachtchiFIDE Ranking: 9Russia's top chess player, Ian Nepomniachtchi, has signed with 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 contribute to an ambitious esports project.
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LGD: Ding LirenFIDE Ranking: 17Despite 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.
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Team Liquid: Fabiano CaruanaFIDE Ranking: 2Team Liquid has further strengthened its chess lineup by signing the American grandmaster Fabiano Caruana to a three-year contract.
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Falcons: Hikaru NakamuraFIDE Ranking: 3Hikaru Nakamura, a five-time U.S. Chess Champion and Twitch star, has joined Team Falcons, bringing his star power to their roster.
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Vitality: Maxime Vachier-LagraveFIDE Ranking: 22French grandmaster Maxime Vachier-Lagrave has joined Vitality, a leading French esports organization known for its competitive prowess in games like CS:GO and Valorant.
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AG Global Esports: Volodar MurzinFIDE Ranking: 70At just eighteen years old, Volodar Murzin, fresh from his victory at the 2024 World Rapid Championship, has signed with AG Global Esports, reinforcing their commitment to excelling in the rapid chess format.
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NAVI: Wesley So, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, and Alexander BotnikFIDE Rankings: 11th, 6th, and 166thNAVI has bolstered its chess division by signing three grandmasters: Wesley So, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, and Alexander Botnik, all set to compete in the EWC.
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