Chess is making significant strides in the esports landscape, and with the 2025 Esports World Cup on the horizon, top players are finding homes in major organizations.
Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura is the latest star to make a move, joining Saudi Arabian esports powerhouse Team Falcons as their representative for the upcoming tournament.
Who is Hikaru Nakamura?
Hikaru Nakamura, widely recognized by his username GMHikaru, is one of the most accomplished chess players in the world. Achieving the title of Grandmaster in 2003, he has secured victories in multiple FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships.
His contributions to the chess scene go beyond competitive play—he has amassed over two million followers on Twitch and collaborated with high-profile influencers such as IShowSpeed, xQc, and Manny Pacquiao. Chess.com named him ‘Player of the Year’ in 2022, further solidifying his status as one of the game’s biggest names.
Hikaru Joins Team Falcons
On February 17, 2025, Team Falcons officially announced Nakamura’s signing through a video titled “Hikaru Nakamura Joins Team Falcons.” In the video, Nakamura declares, “I am a Falcon,” confirming his allegiance to the reigning Esports World Cup champions.
He later took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his excitement, stating that he was “very proud and honored” to be joining the team. The post quickly gained traction, receiving over 700 likes, with Team Falcons’ official account offering enthusiastic support.
Chess Enters the Esports World Cup
The inclusion of chess in the 2025 Esports World Cup marks a historic milestone for the game. The competition has traditionally showcased video game giants such as League of Legends and Counter-Strike, but its expansion into chess reflects the growing intersection between strategy gaming and esports.
Hikaru Nakamura: the competition of Magnus Carlsen and Team Liquid
Esports organizations are moving swiftly to recruit top chess talent ahead of the event. Just days before Nakamura’s signing, Team Liquid announced that they had secured Magnus Carlsen, the world’s highest-rated player.
Meanwhile, Team Vitality has brought in Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, and LCD Gaming has signed reigning world champion Ding Liren. With such an elite lineup of players entering the tournament, chess at the Esports World Cup promises to be a spectacle.
The Future of Chess in Esports
Hikaru Nakamura’s move to Team Falcons is part of a broader trend signaling the growing esports presence of chess. With esports organizations now investing in top grandmasters, the upcoming Esports World Cup could be the start of a new era where chess finds itself firmly embedded in the competitive gaming landscape.
For Nakamura, this move represents a chance to compete at the highest level while further bridging the gap between traditional chess and digital competition. As the 2025 Esports World Cup draws closer, all eyes will be on Team Falcons and their newest star, Hikaru Nakamura.