Team Liquid has made a historic leap into the world of chess esports by signing both five-time World Champion and #1 Chess Player in the world Magnus Carlsen and world #2 Fabiano Caruana. With this move, TL secures two of the most dominant players in modern chess, setting the stage for an exciting year in competitive online play.

Carlsen, regarded as the King of Chess, described Team Liquid as a "perfect fit" for him. The Norwegian grandmaster has held the world #1 ranking for over 14 years, and his signing to Team Liquid marks his first partnership with an esports organization. "It is so exciting to be a part of what I believe is the biggest and best esports team in the world," Carlsen said. "In this digital age, chess in an esports setting is tremendously exciting, and that's where I see the future of the game in faster formats."

Caruana, the 2018 World Chess Championship challenger and four-time U.S. Champion, also shared his enthusiasm for the deal. "I am really excited to join Team Liquid, an organization with a long heritage of success. Playing for a team like Liquid and being part of a wider community can add something new for chess and bring the game to a broader audience."

Chess' transition into the digital age has made it a prime candidate for esports integration, with platforms like Chess.com and Twitch hosting high-profile online tournaments that attract millions of viewers. Moreover, the historic debut of chess in the upcoming Esports World Cup, the world’s largest gaming and esports festival, set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 31 to August 3 has prompted teams to secure the best talent ahead of the competition. After this announcement on the 6th of February, two of the chess world's hottest young stars, Grandmasters Volodar Murzin and Arjun Erigaisi, have become two of the first players to sign with major Esports organizations ahead of the 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC) with Erigaisi getting in Gen.G and Murzin in All Gamers Global.

However, The first major chess signing in esports history was Hikaru Nakamura, who joined TSM (Team SoloMid) in 2020. His move paved the way for other chess professionals to explore esports partnerships, culminating in the recent wave of signings leading up to the 2025 EWC.

Steve Arhancet, co-CEO of Team Liquid, emphasized the significance of these signings. "We've signed the greatest chess player of all time in Magnus, and I could not be more thrilled. This is the biggest signing in Team Liquid's history and a dream player for any team. Fabi is also a seasoned competitor who has adapted brilliantly to new formats. Having both of them on board solidifies our commitment to competitive chess."

The Esports World Cup features a $20 million prize pool, with chess players vying for a share of the $1.5 million allocated for their tournament. More than 200 esports organizations competed in last year's EWC, with Team Liquid finishing as runner-up, earning $4 million. This year, they are aiming for the top spot. The chess esports scene is expanding rapidly, with many top players securing contracts with major organizations. French grandmaster Maxime Vachier-Lagrave recently signed with Team Vitality, while world champion Ding Liren joined LGD Gaming. The race to acquire top chess talent before the EWC is heating up, and Team Liquid has positioned itself as the team to beat.

Chess has steadily integrated into esports over the past few years, with major online tournaments such as the Champions Chess Tour gaining widespread popularity. Carlsen himself has been a pioneer in this transition, having won the 2024 Speed Chess Championship against Alireza Firouzja.

Both players will make their Team Liquid debuts at the Chessable Masters 2025, the first event of the Champions Chess Tour, beginning on February 16. This $150,000 tournament serves as a key qualifier for the EWC, with the top 12 players from the tour earning spots at the grand event in Riyadh. With the world’s two best players, Team Liquid is seeking domination in chess esports. It not only brings credibility to chess within the esports world but also signals a shift in how chess professionals engage with esports.