Aurora Gaming Powers Up With Russia’s Highest Ranked Active Chess Grandmaster
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- Russian chess grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi signs with Aurora Gaming, becoming the first chess player in the organization.
- Nepomniachtchi will compete in events like the Champions Chess Tour and the 2025 Esports World Cup.
- Other major esports teams such as Gen.G, Team Liquid, LGD Gaming, Team Vitality and NAVI are also signing with top-tier grandmasters.
Russian chess grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi has officially signed with Aurora Gaming. The reigning Blitz Chess World Champion (shared with Magnus Carlsen), he became the first-ever chess player to join the roster of the Serbian esports organization.
Nepomniachtchi, who is currently the highest-ranked chess player in Russia and holds ninth place in the rankings of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), will represent Aurora Gaming at major upcoming events, starting with the Champions Chess Tour (CCT) events in February and May. Besides that, Nepomniachtchi will compete at the 2025 Esports World Cup, which kicks off in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on June 28, 2025.
Aurora Gaming expressed excitement over the addition, stating on X: “We’re happy to announce that a famous Dota streamer, grandmaster and the World Champion, Ian Nepomniachtchi, is joining the Aurora family and will represent our colours at the CCT and EWC. Welcome home, Nepo.”
The Serbian organization joins a growing list of top esports teams that have embraced chess as part of their rosters. Other notable signings include Hikaru Nakamura with Team Falcons, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Wesley So, and Oleksandr Bortnyk with NAVI, Fabiano Caruana and Magnus Carlsen with Team Liquid and LGD Gaming with Ding Liren.
