NAVI and Team Liquid enter chess esports with grandmasters
Notable esports experts NAVI and Team Liquid are now playing chess. They're making big waves in the chess esports scene by signing top grandmasters. Both teams are well-known for their skills and loyal fanbases, and their chess journey shows how the game is becoming a bigger deal in the community. It’s also part of the Esports World Cup, which aims to fuse regular chess with competitive online gaming.
NAVI has signed three grandmasters: Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Wesley So, and Oleksandr Bortnyk. These players will represent the team in the Champions Chess Tour 2025. This tournament will happen online from February 16 to February 21, 2025. The players will compete for a share of a $150,000 prize pool. Their goal is to earn spots in the 2025 Esports World Cup, where only the top 12 players from the Champions Chess Tour leaderboard will qualify.
Nodirbek Abdusattorov shared his excitement about joining NAVI, saying, ‘I just want to play some interesting games.’ His words show his passion for the game and how this is a great opportunity to show his skills on a different stage.
Meanwhile, Team Liquid signed two of the best chess players in the world: Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana. Carlsen is often called the greatest chess player, with many awards, including five World Chess Championships. He has a peak rating of 2882—the highest in chess history. Fabiano Caruana is a four-time U.S. Open Chess champion and currently ranks second in the world with a rating of 2803.
The Esports World Cup
The rise of chess in esports is linked to its inclusion in the Esports World Cup (EWC). This partnership with chess.com has opened new doors for players and organisations. The EWC 2025 will feature a chess tournament with a prize pool of $1.5 million, starting from July 31 to August 3, 2025. The match will follow a fast format, giving players only 10 minutes to make their moves.
Steve Arhancet, co-CEO of Team Liquid, said, ‘We are entering chess with the absolute best players because winning is critical to our mission.’ This shows Team Liquid's commitment to success in chess esports.
Other esports teams, like Team Vitality and Gen.G Esports, are also signing grandmasters to improve their chances in the EWC. This trend shows the growing connection between regular chess and esports. With more groups joining the chess scene, fans can expect thrilling matches and fun content.
As NAVI and Team Liquid enter chess esports, the future looks bright for the game. The community is eager to see how these grandmasters perform and what new techniques they will bring to the board.
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