‘Hilarious And Winning Personality’ Anish Giri Joins Team Secret For Esports World Cup Push

GM Anish Giri has become the 15th grandmaster to sign for an esports organization ahead of the $1.5 million 2025 Esports World Cup, joining Team Secret.

The announcement was shared Wednesday on Team Secret’s social media channels and ends a five-week lull in the high-profile chess-esports signing spree since Team Falcons picked up GM Alieza Firouzja in the first days of March.

Giri’s signing was made in collaboration with one of his partners, Anichess, a fantasy-inspired chess gaming platform. “Whether it’s squaring off against world champions or lighting up a broadcast with his trademark humor and insight, Anish brings both skill and personality in spades,” the press release said.

Whether it’s squaring off against world champions or lighting up a broadcast with his trademark humor and insight, Anish brings both skill and personality in spades.

—Team Secret on signing Anish Giri

Having hinted at the signing a day earlier, Giri shared the announcement with his trademark humor.

It’s Secret. https://t.co/9Zvb5IX083

— Anish Giri (@anishgiri) April 9, 2025

Founded in 2014, Team Secret is an esports team based in Europe, best known for its Dota 2 team. They also field teams in titles such as Rainbow Six Siege, Valorant, Counterstrike 2, and League of Legends—and now, with Giri on board, chess.

“We’ve always looked for talent that’s not only world-class but also forward-thinking,” said John Yao, CEO of Team Secret. “Anish is that and more. He’s a brilliant competitor and also a hilarious and winning personality. We’re beyond excited to have him on board.”

He’s a brilliant competitor and also a hilarious and winning personality.

—John Yao, CEO of Team Secret, on Anish Giri

Giri, a grandmaster since the age of 14 and a four-time Dutch Champion, has remained a major force in the world’s top 10 rankings for much of the last decade. The 30-year-old has now dropped to 18th in the world, but he was ranked as high as number three and reached his peak rating of 2802 in 2015. 

His witty personality and online presence have made him a fan favourite with a huge following across social media platforms, where he boasts close to a million followers.

Giri follows in the footsteps of 14 other grandmasters who joined major esports teams since GMs Arjun Erigaisi and Volodar Murzin kicked off the signing spree in February. Firouzja joined GM Hikaru Nakamura at Saudi esports giant Team Falcons before Team Liquid picked up superstar GMs Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana.

The trend of these teams picking up grandmasters results from chess being included in the 2025 Esports World Cup, which takes place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 31 to August 3 with a prize fund of $1.5 million. 

The race to qualify for the EWC is well underway, with one of two Champions Chess Tour qualifying events completed. Giri is very much in the race for one of the 12 qualifying spots after reaching the knockout stage of the Chessable Masters. He is currently tied for ninth place with 20 tour points, but will need a good showing in the second leg, May 18-23, as well.

Giri will unlikely be the last esports signing in the chess world. As Team Secret put it best: Stay tuned. The game is just beginning.

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