The chessboard just became more lively. India’s teenage chess prodigy, R. Praggnanandhaa, has formally joined forces with Magnus Carlsen at Team Liquid, a prestigious Dutch esports organisation, in a move that has thrilled fans all over the world. Days before the eagerly awaited Esports World Cup 2025, which will begin in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this announcement was made.
This year’s tournament will mark the debut of online chess, and Team Liquid is already establishing itself as a formidable favourite thanks to their formidable lineup, which now includes Praggnanandhaa, Carlsen, and Fabiano Caruana. In addition to focussing on competitive gaming, the 2025 Esports World Cup will highlight how classic games like chess are thriving and evolving in the digital sphere.
Joining a Champion Legacy as a Rising Star
Praggnanandhaa’s signing is strategic rather than merely symbolic. The 18-year-old grandmaster is in incredible form right now after winning the 2nd UzChess Cup. His transfer to Team Liquid comes at the perfect time and puts him in prestigious company with four-time U.S. Champion Fabiano Caruana and World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen.
This is not the first time that Praggnanandhaa and Carlsen have shared a team. In 2023 and 2024, the pair participated in the Global Chess League together, growing closer and more respectful of one another. Now, however, the stakes are higher. The Esports World Cup 2025 offers a chance to represent both their team and the development of esport chess.
“Before chess conquered the world, it was born in India,” Team Liquid said in a fitting tribute to mark his arrival. India has influenced the game for centuries. It now influences the future. That tradition is carried on by Praggnanandhaa R., who now joins ours. Greetings from Team Liquid. This is where chess’s future begins.
This is a declaration of intent, not merely public relations. The fusion of technology, talent, and legacy is exactly what the Esports World Cup 2025 seeks to symbolise.
India’s Robust Presence in the Chess World
With his addition, Praggnanandhaa becomes the third Indian in the running to qualify for the Esports World Cup 2025 finals. While Nihal Sarin and Aravindh Chithambaram, both from the Indian esports powerhouse S8UL, are preparing for the Last Chance Qualifiers alongside Pragg, Arjun Erigaisi is already committed to Generation Gaming.
There is no denying India’s influence on the current chess scene. Even though Carlsen may be the most well-known person in the world, young Indian grandmasters are constantly making headlines and entering the elite circles with poise and confidence. By adding chess to the Esports World Cup 2025, these celebrities will have a huge international platform to display their abilities, meet new fans, and raise their profile in the larger digital sports community.
Thanks to websites like Chess.com and Twitch, online chess tournaments have become increasingly popular in recent years. This year’s competition is expected to be both competitive and entertaining, as top players like Hikaru Nakamura and Alireza Firouzja have already been confirmed for other teams like Team Falcons.
Complete Schedule for the 2025 Esports World Cup Chess Finals
There is plenty of star power at the 2025 Esports World Cup. The following list of verified chess players will light up Riyadh:
- Team Liquid’s Magnus Carlsen
- Team Liquid’s Fabiano Caruana
- Hikaru Nakamura of the Falcons
- Team Falcons’ Alireza Firouzja
- Generating Gaming’s Arjun Erigaisi
- Aurora’s Ian Nepomniachtchi
- Abdusattorov Nodirbek (NAVI)
- Team Vitality’s Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
- Duda, Jan-Krzyszt of Twisted Minds
- Weibo user Wei Yi
- Team Spirit by Vladislav Artemiev
- Fedoseev, Vladimir (Independent)
There are representatives from almost every significant chess-playing nation, making it a melting pot of legends and up-and-coming talent. The accessibility of this format—chess, which was previously a niche spectator sport, will now be packaged with all the drama and production value typical of top esports events—is particularly exciting for viewers in the UK.
The Esports World Cup 2025 may be the ideal fusion of traditional intelligence and contemporary digital entertainment for fans in the UK, where interest in both traditional chess and esports is rising.
Last Thought: Chess Is a Digital Extravaganza, Not Just a Game Now
The Esports World Cup 2025 is evidence that the chess world is changing. The stakes, excitement, and expectations have all increased since R. Praggnanandhaa joined Team Liquid a few days before the tournament starts. His collaboration with Magnus Carlsen is a sign that chess is prepared to take centre stage in the esport revolution, not just another team-up.
It’s another significant milestone in India’s long-standing relationship with the game. It’s a powerful move for Team Liquid to get ahead of the competition. Additionally, it’s an exciting chance for a worldwide audience to witness chess reinvented as a full-fledged digital sport rather than merely a board game.
All eyes will be on this outstanding group of players and the tales they will write as Riyadh gets ready to host the spectacular event. There’s no denying that the Esports World Cup 2025 will be filled with exciting moments with Praggnanandhaa and Carlsen back together.
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