European esports organisation Team Secret has announced it has signed chess grandmaster Anish Giri.
Giri will represent the organisation during the 2025 edition of the Esports World Cup alongside the second leg of the Champions Chess Tour.
The announcement was made by Team Secret on April 9th, 2025, as the organisation becomes the latest to add a chess player to its ranks ahead of the Esports World Cup where chess will make its debut.
Giri is one of 15 grandmasters that has signed for an organisation in the weeks leading up to the tournament which features a $1.5m (~£1.1m) prize pool.
“We’ve always looked for talent that’s not only world-class but also forward-thinking,” said John Yao, CEO of Team Secret. “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.”
Giri, currently ranked 18th in the world, became a grandmaster at 14 years old. Since then, he has become a four-time Dutch champion and built an online following of nearly one million followers.
Team Secret is one of several esports organisations that has expanded into chess in recent weeks. The likes of Team Liquid, Team Falcons, Wolves Esports, and more have also signed top-ranked players in preparation for the Esports World Cup which will feature a $70m (~£53.5m) prize pool split across 25 titles and the Club competition.
Why Are Esports Organisations Expanding Into Chess?
The inclusion of chess at the Esports World Cup is a contributing factor as to why esports organisations are signing chess players.
With a record-breaking amount of prize money on offer at 2025’s event, fielding the best players in the world gives organisations the best chance to earn points for the Club competition in which the winner takes home $7m (~£5.3m).
2024’s Club Championship was won by Saudi Arabian esports organisation Team Falcons after it achieved ten top-three placements and two victories.
