Wolves Esports has made a significant move by signing Chinese chess grandmaster Yu Yangyi as part of their preparations for the upcoming Esports World Cup 2025. This event marks a notable milestone as chess will be included as a competitive discipline for the first time.

Yu Yangyi, who is currently ranked 28th globally, has an impressive track record. His achievements include:

• Winning a gold medal at the 41st Chess Olympiad in 2014.
• Receiving the individual gold medal with a performance rating of 2912.

The Esports World Cup will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 31 to August 3, 2025, featuring a substantial prize pool of $1.5 million. This decision by Wolves Esports reflects a growing trend of major organizations entering the chess esports scene, with other notable signings including:

• Indian grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi by Gen.G.
• Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana joining Team Liquid.

Additionally, teams like LGD Gaming and Team Vitality have also acquired top players, showcasing the substantial growth of chess within the esports domain.

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