The kings of the chessboard

We’re excited to announce that IMC is the primary sponsor of newly formed Team Liquid Chess, with players including none other than Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana.

Carlsen is five-time World No. 1 and highest-rated chess player in history, while Caruana is World No. 2 and reigning four-time United States Chess Champion. The grandmasters will represent the leading esports team at a range of tournaments worldwide.

“IMC’s interest and enthusiasm for chess has driven us to prioritize this space,” says Thom Valks, Partnerships Manager at Team Liquid. “Without IMC’s backing, we wouldn’t have approached such big names. Carlsen and Caruana are not just the best in the game, they embody integrity and respect, values deeply shared by Team Liquid and IMC.”

Chess and esports: A perfect match

The partnership is designed for long-term impact, with Carlsen and Caruana signing multi-year contracts to represent Team Liquid. Over the next two years, the IMC logo will appear prominently on the players’ jerseys during competitive events, including at the highly anticipated 2025 Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – the first-ever inclusion of competitive chess in the tournament.

While chess hasn’t traditionally been considered an esport, its recent surge in popularity on platforms like Twitch and Chess.com has cemented its place in gaming culture, helping IMC to reach more top talent with the analytical skills we look for.

“The game of chess is about the ability to problem-solve and think strategically under pressure, qualities that IMCers demonstrate in their work every day,” says Global Head of Marketing Matthew Rose. “We’re thrilled to support Team Liquid’s journey in the chess world, while deepening our connection to a growing community of chess lovers.”

Inside IMC: Why chess inspires us

For IMC employees, the partnership with Team Liquid Chess is about more than just global brand recognition—it resonates on a deeply personal level.

"As a competitive chess player, I see so many parallels between the game and what we do at IMC," says Murad Abdulla, Software Engineer at IMC Amsterdam and FIDE Master. "Both require you to analyze data, calculate variations, and adapt quickly to changing circumstances. Sponsoring Team Liquid Chess and two of the world’s greatest chess players feels like a natural fit for who we are as a company."

"Partnering with two of the greatest minds in chess reminds us how strategy and preparation can lead to incredible achievements," says Jan Willem Kohne, COO at IMC.“Their dedication to high performance and ability to think multiple steps ahead reflect the mindset we bring to solving complex challenges at IMC.”

We’re proud to make this bold move into chess, which reflects our commitment to innovation, collaboration, and problem-solving—on and off the board.