One of the most well-known and prosperous esports organizations in the world, Team Liquid, has signed chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen to enter the competitive chess scene. With a long list of achievements, including five World Chess titles, five World Rapid Chess titles, and eight World Blitz Chess titles, Carlsen is regarded by many as the greatest chess player of all time.
With a 2833 rating as of this writing, he is currently the top player in the International Chess Federation’s rankings and with his peak rating of 2882, Carlsen holds the record for the highest rating in chess history. This addition will not only strengthen the chances of Team Liquid in the Esports World Cup but will also felicitate the bridge between conventional sports and Esports.
Why did Team Liquid add Magnus Carlsen to its Chess roster?
Magnus Carlsen has been the reigning no 1 ranked Chess player for 14 years now. So, a team like Liquid which has already boasted its dominance in multiple Esports fields like Dota 2, League of Legends, Counter-Strike 2, Valorant, Overwatch 2, and many more, it was quite obvious it would go on to carry forward that legacy in Chess too.
Our second knight leaps into action ♞
Welcome to the GOAT, @MagnusCarlsen. pic.twitter.com/qgR5M1IYiO
— Team Liquid (@TeamLiquid) February 14, 2025
After the Esports World Cup Foundation partnered with the well-known online chess platform chess.com in December 2024, the long-standing traditional sport was added to the Esports World Cup (EWC), which likely sparked Team Liquid’s foray into the chess world. Notably, Carlsen was named a global ambassador for the collaboration.
The inclusion of chess in the EWC also comes as a result of the growing overlap between esports and Chess in recent years, as more and more chess tournaments are being held online via sites like chess.com. In general, Esports was not seen as a stable career.
Therefore, by adding more sports and titles, these teams have more opportunities to become more well-known. Aside from that, chess will help these esports teams reach a larger audience and bridge the generational divide. The teams will be able to support themselves a little better than usual thanks to the increased revenue.
More teams are gearing up for the Esports World Cup
Not only Carlsen but also the reigning four-time United States Open Chess champion Fabiano Caruana is signed by Team Liquid. The Esports company’s co-CEO Steve Arhancet stated that “winning is critical” to Team Liquid’s mission after the company’s blockbuster entry into the Chess world by signing two of the top players in the world.
Grandmaster, four-time US Open Champion, perennial Candidate, and third highest rated player of all time.
Our expansion into chess is in great hands. Welcome to Team Liquid, @FabianoCaruana ♘ pic.twitter.com/Yug086zFeD
— Team Liquid (@TeamLiquid) February 13, 2025
Grandmasters Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Arjun Erigaisi, Ding Liren, and Volodar Murzin have been signed by Team Vitality, Gen.G Esports, LGD Gaming, and All Gamers Global, respectively, demonstrating that Team Liquid is not the only esports organization to sign chess players prior to the EWC.
From July 31 to August 3, the EWC 2025 chess tournament will take place with a $1.5 million prize pool, along with the hefty price pool of the entire tournament. Additionally, the tournament will use a rapid 10+0 chess format, meaning that players will have 10 minutes on the clock with no chance for extra time. Twelve players will compete, and they will earn their spots through a Last Chance Qualifier and online events in the Champion Chess Tour.
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