Chess Grandmaster Anish Giri Signs with Team Secret Ahead of 2025 Esports World Cup

Grandmaster Anish Giri has made headlines by becoming the 15th grandmaster to sign with an esports organization ahead of the $1.5 million 2025 Esports World Cup. Giri has joined Team Secret, a well-known esports team based in Europe, marking the end of a five-week lull in high-profile chess-esports signings.

The announcement of Giri’s signing was shared on Team Secret’s social media channels, with the team expressing excitement about adding the talented and humorous grandmaster to their roster. Giri’s signing was made in collaboration with Anichess, a fantasy-inspired chess gaming platform.

Known for his wit and online presence, Giri is a four-time Dutch Champion and has been a major force in the world’s top 10 rankings for much of the last decade. Despite currently being ranked 18th in the world, Giri has reached as high as number three and achieved a peak rating of 2802 in 2015.

Giri’s signing follows a trend of grandmasters joining major esports teams in anticipation of the 2025 Esports World Cup, where chess will be featured as a competitive title. With the race to qualify for the EWC well underway, Giri is actively competing in the Champions Chess Tour events to secure a spot in the prestigious tournament.

Team Secret’s CEO, John Yao, praised Giri’s talent and personality, highlighting the grandmaster’s competitive spirit and humor. As the chess world continues to see grandmasters sign with esports organizations, Giri’s signing with Team Secret signals a new chapter in the intersection of chess and esports.

With the 2025 Esports World Cup on the horizon and more grandmasters expected to make esports signings, the chess world is buzzing with excitement. As Team Secret aptly put it, “Stay tuned. The game is just beginning.”