Workforce Vitality has introduced chess Grandmaster Maxime ‘MVL’ Vachier-Lagrave as its new skilled chess participant.
MVL will symbolize the French esports organisation internationally and take part in neighborhood activations, bridging the esports and chess communities.
French chess participant MVL is a notable determine within the international chess scene, having achieved the title of Grandmaster on the age of 14. All through most of his profession, he has been ranked among the many high 10 gamers on the planet by the World Chess Federation (FIDE). Presently, he’s ranked World#7 in Fast chess.
MVL’s quite a few chess achievements embody 5 Biel Grandmaster Match wins and two Sinquefield Cup victories. He additionally received the World Blitz Championship in 2021.
The primary occasion of the 2025 Champions Chess Tour, referred to as the Chessable Masters, can be MVL’s first competitors as an official Workforce Vitality participant.
In December 2024, the Esports World Membership (EWC) revealed the inclusion of chess throughout its 2025 version alongside the appointment of Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen as an envoy. EWC is an esports pageant backed by the Saudi Arabian authorities. The occasion awards organisations with factors throughout a number of esports titles to find out essentially the most profitable staff.
With a number of Vitality rosters — together with CS2 and Rocket League — competing on the EWC, MVL hopes to contribute to his new organisation’s EWC rating within the Fast Chess class.
MVL stated in a press launch: “I’m completely thrilled to hitch Workforce Vitality for this new journey on the planet of esports! Competing for Workforce Vitality this 12 months is an thrilling problem, and the 2 qualifying tournaments can be key milestones in my 2025 season for qualifying within the EWC.
“Seeing chess take its place alongside among the largest video games in esports is unbelievable—it’s a implausible alternative to develop the sport and encourage the subsequent era of gamers.”
