Speed Chess Stars Dubov, Artemiev Picked Up By Team Spirit
Russian esports organization Team Spirit has entered the world of esports with a splash, signing not one but two of the top speed chess specialists on the planet. GMs Daniil Dubov and Vladislav Artemiev will now attempt to qualify for the $1.5 million 2025 Esports World Cup.
The chess esports signing spree is back in full swing. Shortly after Team Secret announced the signing of GM Anish Giri on Wednesday, Team Spirit revealed that they had picked up the Russian duo.
“Today, Team Spirit begins its journey in a new discipline,” the organization said. “We welcome two chess grandmasters to our ranks, Daniil 'duhless' Dubov and Vladislav 'konevlad' Artemiev. We are delighted with the signings and are already preparing to follow their performances at major chess tournaments.”
The news was also shared on Team Spirit's newly launched account on X/Twitter, along with a YouTube video introducing the players.
28-year-old Dubov is a fan-favorite, renowned for his highly creative and imaginative playing style. His biggest achievement to date is winning the 2018 World Rapid Championship. He has also shown excellent results in blitz, such as finishing second in the 2023 World Blitz Championship behind GM Magnus Carlsen, but ahead of Artemiev in third.
Dubov called the move a perfect fit on his Instagram account: "I am very happy to be a part of Team Spirit. Esports and chess now go hand in hand and I am glad that I will go to new victories as a part of such a young and energetic team that needs no introduction."
Esports and chess now go hand in hand.
—Daniil Dubov
27-year-old Artemiev was ranked as high as 10th in the world with 2761 in 2019, after winning prestigious events such as the European Championship and the Gibraltar Chess Festival. He has also excelled in blitz, with a peak rating of 2849 in May 2018, when he hit third in the world behind GMs Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura.
The married father-of-two isn't as active nowadays, but will undoubtedly be a dangerous opponent for any opponent regardless. On joining Team Spirit, the grandmaster kept it brief with a photo along with the text, "A new chapter in my life."
Founded in 2015, Team Spirit was originally based in Moscow but relocated to Belgrade, Serbia in 2022 following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In a statement at the time, they said:
"Everything is changing, and one of these changes is the current situation between Russia and Ukraine, where many of our players and employees come from. Given the circumstances, both practical and ethical, the decision to relocate seems like the only right one."
Team Spirit fields teams in Dota 2, Counterstrike 2, League of Legends, and Heartstone. In 2023, their Dota 2 squad won The International, picking up more than $18 million, the largest single prize payout in esports history.
With Dubov and Artemiev now in the fold, the list of grandmasters joining esports organizations for the Esports World Cup have grown to 17. Having signed two of the world's greatest speed chess stars, Team Spirit will likely be highly ranked in our Power Ranking of the esports teams.
Here are the signed grandmasters and their esports teams so far:
- Team Liquid: Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana
- Team Falcons: Hikaru Nakamura, Alireza Firouzja
- Na’Vi: Wesley So, Olexandr Bortnyk, Nodirbek Abdusattorov
- Team Spirit: Daniil Dubov, Vladislav Artemiev
- Team Secret: Anish Giri
- Gen G: Arjun Erigaisi
- Aurora: Ian Nepomniachtchi
- Wolves Esports: Yu Yangyi
- Team Vitality: Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
- Weibo Gaming: Wei Yi
- AG Global: Volodar Murzin
- LGD Gaming: Ding Liren
However, there will only be 16 players competing at the Esports World Cup. The road to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia runs through the Champions Chess Tour, where 12 players will qualify. The four remaining spots will go to players competing in a last-chance qualifier, details of which are yet to be announced.
After the Chessable Masters, Artemiev sits in a good spot on the Tour Leaderboard, in a tie for ninth after reaching the knockout stage. However, the 27-year-old will also need a strong performance in the second leg, which takes place May 18-23.
Previous coverage:
- 'Hilarious And Winning Personality' Anish Giri Joins Team Secret For Esports World Cup Push
- Firouzja Joins Nakamura At Team Falcons, Yu Yangyi Signs With Wolves Esports
- Nakamura Signs For Esports World Champion Team Falcons, Nepo Joins Aurora
- Abdusattorov, So, Bortnyk Join Ukrainian Esports Team; Wei Yi Signs For Weibo
- Magnus Carlsen And Fabiano Caruana Sign With Esports Giant Team Liquid
- Ding Liren Signs With Chinese Esports Team, Reveals Return To Chess
- Vachier-Lagrave Signs With Team Vitality Ahead Of Esports World Cup
- Arjun, Murzin Become First Chess Stars Signed Ahead Of Esports World Cup
