The Rise of Chess in Esports: Team Falcons Signs Alireza Firouzja, Wolves Esports Acquires Yu Yangyi

The world of esports continues to expand its horizons as two chess grandmasters, Alireza Firouzja and Yu Yangyi, have been signed by top esports organizations. Team Falcons announced the acquisition of Firouzja, joining forces with fellow superstar Hikaru Nakamura, while Wolves Esports made their first move in the chess scene by signing Yu Yangyi.

Team Falcons, known for their success in various gaming disciplines, including winning the Esports World Championship in 2024, has now entered the world of chess with the signing of Firouzja. With two of the world’s best speed chess players on their roster, Team Falcons is poised to challenge top teams like Team Liquid, boasting grandmasters Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana.

Firouzja’s impressive performance in the Champions Chess Tour 2024, where he proved to be a formidable rival to Carlsen, has solidified his position as one of the top players in the world. Meanwhile, Yu Yangyi, a seasoned Chinese grandmaster with a strong track record in rapid and blitz chess, has joined Wolves Esports, adding to the growing list of grandmasters signed for the Esports World Cup.

With the addition of Firouzja and Yu, a total of 14 grandmasters have been signed by esports organizations ahead of the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The race to qualify for the EWC is well underway, with players vying for a spot in the prestigious tournament. As the world of chess in esports continues to evolve, fans can expect thrilling competitions and fierce rivalries in the upcoming events.