Team Liquid Welcomes Magnus Carlsen
In an exciting development for both the chess and esports communities, Team Liquid has welcomed Magnus Carlsen, the current World Chess Champion, as its latest member.
This marks a pivotal move for the organization as they expand their roster of talent in the chess arena.
Carlsen, now the second chess professional to join Team Liquid, will represent the team in a variety of international chess tournaments throughout 2025.
With his addition, Team Liquid proudly stands as home to two of the best chess players in the world, alongside Fabiano Caruana.
The Legacy of Magnus Carlsen
Having held the number one ranking for an astounding 14 years and claimed the world championship title five times, Carlsen is considered one of the best chess players in history.
This collaboration between Carlsen and Team Liquid symbolizes a groundbreaking intersection between traditional chess and the fast-evolving world of esports.
“I’m thrilled to be joining what I regard as a premier esports team,” Carlsen remarked, reflecting on the partnership’s synergy with both his career and Team Liquid’s brand.
He believes this collaboration is perfectly aligned with his vision for the future of chess in the esports sector.
The Future of Chess in Esports
In addition to his competitive role, Carlsen is set to serve as an ambassador for the upcoming Esports World Cup, which will feature chess as a competitive title for the first time in 2025.
Team Liquid isn’t alone in this chess endeavor; other esports organizations are actively recruiting elite chess talent.
For instance, French organization Team Vitality made headlines by signing Maxime ‘MVL’ Vachier-Lagrave.
This movement signifies a larger trend recognizing the growing prominence of chess within the esports landscape.
The inclusion of chess at the Esports World Cup opens new doors for participating teams involved in the partner program.
Team Liquid joins a cohort of 40 organizations in this initiative, which comes with an impressive $20 million (~£15.9 million) prize pool, apportioned based on the performance of each team during the tournament.
With chess being one of the 25 featured games at this pivotal event, it’s likely that many more esports teams will look to integrate chess players into their rosters.
The marriage of chess and esports is poised for growth, promising an exciting future for players and fans alike.
Source: Esportsinsider