Magnus Carlsen, the five-time World Chess Champion and a global ambassador for the Esports World Cup, is confirmed as a speaker at the New Global Sport Conference 2025 (NGSC 2025). The event will take place on August 23 – 24, 2025, at the Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh during the Closing Weekend of the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. NGSC 2025 is a leading platform focused on the convergence of gaming, esports, and traditional sports, bringing together over 1,500 founders, investors, and creators for keynotes, panels, private forums, and strategic roundtables.
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Carlsen, recognized as chess’s biggest superstar and one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people, will discuss how chess is expanding into digital ecosystems, reflecting its evolution into a digital-first sport with a growing global audience. His participation underscores his commitment to advancing chess as an esport, especially following its inclusion in the Esports World Cup 2025 as part of a cross-game format. He will be joined by other prominent figures, including LA28 Olympic Games Chairman Casey Wasserman, former EA Sports President and Liverpool FC CEO Peter Moore, CBS Sports Vice President Pete Radovich, and esports leaders like Victor Goossens (Team Liquid) and Danny Tang (Hero Esports), as well as executives from Sony, Activision, SEGA, and Bandai Namco.
The conference will feature new formats like the Foundry, offering masterclasses and investor-focused sessions, and the NGSC Studio for live podcasts and interviews. Carlsen’s involvement highlights his broader influence in bridging traditional and digital competitive spaces, building on his recent success at the Esports World Cup, where he won the inaugural chess title and drew significant viewership.
