A Prime Video documentary released last year details the competition to sign Magnus Carlsen for the 2025 Esports World Cup chess debut. Carlsen also appears with Cristiano Ronaldo in a promotional video for the 2026 event in Paris.
Season two of Esports World Cup: Level Up premiered on Prime Video on June 26. The third episode covers chess at the 2025 tournament in Riyadh and shows Team Liquid's efforts to recruit Carlsen.
Team Liquid co-CEO Steve Arhancet said the organization wanted the best player in the world and faced competition from dozens of teams. He noted the deal was not the highest financial offer but succeeded due to planning and brand strength.
Carlsen won the inaugural chess title, defeating Alireza Firouzja in the final for a $250,000 prize. His performance helped Team Liquid finish second in the Club Championship.
For 2026, Carlsen joins Ronaldo and other stars in an 84-second video titled Greatness Recognizes Greatness. The Esports World Cup runs July 6 to August 23 in Paris, with the chess event scheduled August 11 to 15 and a $1.5 million prize fund.