Team Vitality’s Danny Engels revealed his failed recruitment of Alireza Firouzja who ultimately signed with Team Falcons, in The World Chess Show Episode 5 video from World Chess.

Danny Engels

Danny Engels

Director, Team Vitality

I tried to speak to Alireza. I had a video call with Alireza when he was in New York for the World Championship. I made him an offer, he started ghosting me. Then he joined Falcons at the end so I am pretty sure Falcons offered more money to Alireza.

Team Vitality.Maxime Vachier-Lagrave didn’t qualify into the playoffs stage, after loosing to Arjun Erigaisi, and edded up 9th-12th. EWC 2025 took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with Magnus Carlsen claiming the $250,000 first prize for Team Liquid.