Become a member of GB MAX to gain exclusive access to the industry and to the most influential global B2B leadership community in the business of gaming, entertainment, and tech. Join now and also get a VIP ticket to GamesBeat Next (Nov 2-3, SF).
Magnus Carlsen is a vaunted chess champion who has dominated the game for a long time. And now he’s an esport chess warrior. This year, the Norwegian champ took the plunge into esports and signed up with Team Liquid to compete in chess as an esport at the Esports World Cup.
He came out on top, to no one’s surprise. Carlsen won the inaugural chess event at the 2025 Esports World Cup, defeating Alireza Firouzja. That made him the first Chess Esports World Cup Champion.
This is exclusive GB MAX content. Members get full transcripts, in-depth analysis, and access to the conversations shaping the gaming industry — the stuff that doesn’t make the free feed.
Become a GB MAX Member starting at $299/year.
