Chess grandmaster Andrey Esipenko joins Virtus.pro

Virtus.pro are proud to announce the signing of Russian chess grandmaster Andrey Esipenko.

Andrey Esipenko is a 23-year-old grandmaster and one of the most successful chess players of his generation. He earned his GM title at the age of 16 and is known for his versatile playing style and strong tournament preparation.

Nikolai Petrossian, CEO of Virtus.pro:

"Chess has a rich history and huge potential in the digital era. Andrey is one of the strongest young grandmasters in the world, and we’re excited to begin this collaboration. We have no doubt that he will qualify for the Esports World Cup, and after the tournament, we’ll assess how to further develop chess within our club."

Andrey Esipenko:

"Chess is becoming closer to esports, and I’m genuinely happy about that. As a long-time fan of CS and the EA FC football series, I see many similarities between traditional sports, esports, and chess. Virtus.pro is a club with a great legacy, and I’m honored to become part of it."

Andrey's next tournament will be the Chess.com Classic, starting on May 18th. The event offers valuable CCT points required to qualify for the Esports World Cup 2025. Currently, Andrey is ranked 7th–8th in the overall Championship Chess Tour standings with 30 points.