Workforce Liquid’s chess roster simply acquired even stronger. The Dutch esports powerhouse has added world number-four GM Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu to their ranks, becoming a member of celebrity GMs Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana.
The 19-year-old Indian prodigy was unveiled as Workforce Liquid’s third grandmaster a day after he gained the 2nd UzChess Cup in Uzbekistan. Carlsen and Caruana already signed for the Dutch esports group on February 14.
Workforce Liquid shared the announcement in a video posted on their social media platforms, with Praggnanandhaa responding together with his pleasure:
Tremendous excited to be a part of @TeamLiquid !
From India to the world, let’s take chess to the following degree collectively!அன்பான வரவேற்புக்கு நன்றி!#TeamLiquid25 https://t.co/HFjvXKOLCi
— Praggnanandhaa (@rpraggnachess) June 28, 2025
Praggnanandhaa, one of many few prime grandmasters who had not but signed with an esports workforce, now joins what’s the most formidable roster assembled forward of the $1.5 million Esports World Cup (EWC), which takes place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 29 to August 1.
World #1, #3, #4.
That is Workforce Liquid Chess
We’re Scaling. #TeamLiquid25 #EWC pic.twitter.com/LEbK5vLlvN
— Workforce Liquid (@TeamLiquid) July 8, 2025
Workforce Liquid’s preliminary put up additionally obtained a response from GM Hikaru Nakamura, who in a reply known as Pragg a “uncommon gem within the chess world.” Carlsen responded together with his common in his conventional trend:
Entire lot of letters in Praggnanandhaa, however no «I»
Welcome to the workforce🤝 https://t.co/iC7ZARpuo7
— Magnus Carlsen (@MagnusCarlsen) June 28, 2025
The EWC will see 16 of the world’s prime grandmasters compete for the $1.5 million prize fund, with 12 of them already having secured their ticket. Along with Workforce Liquid’s Carlsen and Caruana and Workforce Falcon’s Nakamura, the opposite confirmed gamers are GMs Ian Nepomniachtchi (Aurora Gaming), Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (Workforce Vitality), Jan-Krzysztof Duda (Twisted Minds), Arjun Erigaisi (Gen.G Esports), Nodirbek Abdusattorov (NAVI), Vladislav Artemiev (Workforce Spirit), Vladimir Fedoseev, Fabiano Caruana (Workforce Liquid), and Wei Yi (Weibo Gaming).
Praggnanandhaa is among the many many gamers who’re anticipated to struggle for the remaining 4 spots in the Final Likelihood Qualifier within the Saudi capital from July 24-26, along with GMs Oleksandr Bortnyk, Alexey Sarana, Aravindh Chithambaram, and Andrew Tang, who all gained a visit to the LCQ via DreamHack Dallas.
Greater than 25 of the world’s prime grandmasters have been picked up by esports organizations forward of the EWC. The gamers usually are not simply competing individually but additionally representing their groups combating for prizes on the total Membership Championship. The occasion has an astonishing $27 million prize fund, with the winner cashing in $7 million.
Though Praggnanandhaa signed after the Could 31 deadline, that means he gained’t be eligible to contribute factors for Workforce Liquid within the Membership Championship portion of the EWC this 12 months, his addition considerably bolsters the workforce’s long-term power.
Collectively will Carlsen and Caruana, the trio will likely be regarded among the many huge favorites in future EWC occasions. Additionally, Workforce Liquid has signed the rising star in a multi-year deal, guaranteeing he cannot be picked up by different groups.
Praggnanandhaa is the fourth Indian to signal for an esports group. Arjun was already picked up by Gen.G on February 5, whereas GMs Nihal Sarin and Aravindh joined the Mumbai-based esports group S8UL on April 13.
This signing caps a unprecedented run for Praggnanandhaa in 2025. He has already gained three main worldwide occasions and climbed to world number-four within the FIDE rankings, his career-high. He presently leads the FIDE Circuit standings, placing him in pole place to qualify for the 2026 Candidates Event, the ultimate step earlier than a possible World Chess Championship match.
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