Grandmaster Anish Giri has joined Team Secret in a record-breaking move ahead of the Esports World Cup 2025. Team Secret is one of Europe’s leading esports organizations, and this strategic sining highlights the growing trend of esports teams entering chess, specifically ever since it was included in the upcoming Esports World Cup 2025. Giri is known for his exceptional chess skills and personality and will represent Team Secret in both the Esports World Cup and the Champions Chess Tour.
On 9 April 2025, Team Secret officially confirmed Anish Giri’s joining via their X account, stating, “Meme lord, professional roaster & 200IQ player: he’s exactly what we needed. With EWC qualifier season underway, we’re excited to grow our team. Welcome Anish Giri, our chess carry”
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Meme lord, professional roaster & 200IQ player: he's exactly what we needed.
With EWC qualifier season underway, we’re excited to grow our team. Welcome Anish Giri, our chess carry ♟️#EWC2025 pic.twitter.com/CFduaOc4WR
— Team Secret (@teamsecret) April 9, 2025
Team Secret is known for its dominance in games like DOTA 2, Rainbow Six Seige, Valorant, and League of Legends. The organization’s expansion with Anish Giri signing for Esports World Cup is a major development in its esports scene. John Yao, CEO of Team Secret, welcomed Anish Giri and said, “We’ve always looked for talent that’s not only world-class but also forward-thinking. Anish is that and more. He’s a brilliant competitor and also a hilarious and winning personality. We’re beyond excited to have him on board.”
Anish Giri joins 14 other chess legends in the Esports World Cup 2025 lineup
The move is a part of a broader trend, with major esports organizations signing grandmasters across the world. Anish Giri now joins an elite group of 14 other grandmasters who recently joined esports teams like Team Liquid, signing chess legends like Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana and Team Falcons, signing Hikaru Nakamura and Alireza Firoujza.
The trend is a direct result of chess being included in the Esports World Cup 2025, which is set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 31 July to 3 August. This means we could see many more chess players from around the world joining the esports scene, so stay tuned for more updates.
Also Read: Esports World Cup 2025 Returns To Riyadh: Bigger, Better, Unforgettable
