Team Liquid Signs 5-Time Chess World Champion Magnus Carlsen

Team Liquid has signed chess World Champion Magnus Carlsen. 

Carlsen is the second chess professional signed to the organization. He will represent the North American organization in international chess tournaments throughout 2025. 

The roster now features Carlesen and Fabiano Caruana, who are considered the two best players in the world. 

Caruana is an ambassador for the Esports World Cup, which will feature chess for the first time in 2025. 

Who is Magnus Carlsen? 

Carlsen is considered the best chess player in the world. He’s had the No. 1 ranking for 14 years and has won the world championship five times. 

“It is so exciting to be a part of what I believe is the biggest and best esports team in the world,” said Carlsen. “As one of the biggest names in chess myself, partnering up with the best team and a fun brand is a perfect fit. I look forward to chess becoming staples of esports teams from now on.”

Members of Team Liquid are also speaking out about the signing. 

"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," said Arhancet of Team Liquid. "There aren't many athletes who transcend their game the way Magnus does. He is in a class all to himself, and we're honored that he has chosen us as his home in chess' esports era."

Chess Esports in 2025 

Team Liquid isn’t the only esports organization to get into chess. The French-based organization Team Vitality signed Maxime Vachier-Lagrave.

This trend will only continue. 

Team Liquid will participate in the event, which offers about $20 million in prizes that are distributed based on performance. 

Now that chess has been added to the Esports World Cup, along with other games like Apex Legends, expect signings of chess players to only grow. 

“We are entering chess with the absolute best players because winning is critical to our mission,” said Team Liquid co-CEO Steve Arhancet in a press release.