Chess Grandmasters Enter the Esports Arena: A 2025 Phenomenon
A remarkable trend has emerged in early 2025 as the chess world and esports organizations forge unprecedented partnerships. More than ten elite chess players, including the legendary Magnus Carlsen, have recently signed with major esports teams, marking a significant shift in how competitive chess interfaces with modern gaming organizations.
The Recent Wave of Signings
The movement began in February when All Gamers, a Chinese esports organization, recruited Russian Grandmaster Volodar Murzin, fresh off his victory at the 2024 FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship. This signing sparked a cascade of partnerships across the global esports landscape.
Team Liquid made perhaps the most significant impact by securing both Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana, while Natus Vincere demonstrated their commitment by signing three grandmasters simultaneously. Other major organizations joining the trend include:
- Gen.G Esports (South Korea) – signing Arjun Erigaisi
- Team Vitality (France) – recruiting Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
- LGD Gaming (China) – partnering with 2023 World Chess Champion Ding Liren
- Team Falcons (Saudi Arabia) – bringing on streaming sensation Hikaru Nakamura
- Aurora Gaming (Serbia) – most recently signing Ian Nepomniachtchi
The Catalyst: Esports World Cup
Primary driver behind this surge in chess-esports partnerships is the upcoming Esports World Cup (EWC), which has incorporated rapid chess as an official discipline alongside traditional esports titles like Counter-Strike and League of Legends. The chess tournament offers a substantial $1.5 million prize pool, surpassing most traditional chess events except for the World Chess Championship.
Tournament structure includes:
- A rapid chess format (10+0)
- 16 total participants
- 12 spots determined through Champions Chess Tour online qualifiers
- 4 positions available through a Last Chance Qualifier in Riyadh
Historical Context: The Pandemic Precedent
This isn’t the first time chess and esports have converged. During the 2020 pandemic, when traditional chess events were suspended, online chess experienced unprecedented growth. Several factors contributed to this earlier boom:
- The success of Netflix’s “The Queen’s Gambit”
- Popular streaming events featuring gaming personalities
- Chess.com’s Pogchamps tournament series, which achieved remarkable viewership
During that period, organizations like TSM, CLG, and Cloud9 signed chess players, though many of these partnerships didn’t endure beyond the pandemic era.
The Future of Chess in Esports
The current wave of signings appears more strategically motivated than the pandemic-era partnerships. Beyond the immediate draw of the Esports World Cup, these collaborations recognize the dual role many chess players now occupy as both competitors and content creators. The success of these partnerships, particularly in the context of the EWC, could determine whether chess becomes a permanent fixture in the esports landscape.
The declaration by EWC that “chess is esports” remains contentious within the traditional chess community. However, the substantial investment by major esports organizations suggests a growing recognition of chess’s potential in the digital competitive sphere.
