14 November 2024

World Chess Plc

("World Chess" or the "Company")

World Chess Sets New Record with Hans Niemann's Historic Chess Match at Web Summit

World Chess PLC (LSE: CHSS), in collaboration with it.com Domains and Web Summit, is pleased to announce the success of the "Hans Niemann vs. You" event, which took place on 13 November 2024, at Lisbon's MEO Arena. This landmark challenge saw a record-breaking 106,638 participants from 132 countries join forces to challenge Grandmaster Hans Niemann in an AI-assisted, real-time match that marked a significant milestone in the history of online chess.

A New Record for Online Chess Participation

This match, streamed live and featuring a unique voting system that allowed players of all levels to vote on each move, surpassed previous records held by events such as Garry Kasparov's "Kasparov vs. The World" and Viswanathan Anand's 60,000-opponent match. Participants united under the banner of the "World Team" and collaborated through an AI advisor system based on the Stockfish engine, selecting moves at Grandmaster, Advanced, and Amateur levels. The match concluded in 71 moves, with Hans Niemann securing victory in a game that captured the interest of both the chess and tech communities.

Event Highlights:

·    Unprecedented Participation: 106,638 players, from diverse backgrounds and skill levels, joined forces to form the "World Team," setting a new benchmark in the realm of online simultaneous chess matches.

·    AI-Powered Engagement: Utilising an AI advisor allowed participants of varying skill levels to make informed decisions, enhancing the strategic depth of the game while highlighting AI's growing role in chess.

·    High-Level Visibility: Hosted live at Web Summit and viewed across multiple platforms, the event engaged thousands of live viewers and underscored chess's appeal in the tech industry.

Ilya Merenzon, CEO of World Chess, added: "Chess is seeing remarkable growth, and we're thrilled to showcase its modern potential. Events like this allow us to integrate cutting-edge technology into chess, making it accessible and exciting for a global audience."

Andrey Insarov, CEO of it.com Domains, commented: "This challenge represented our vision of bringing technology and tradition together. Hans Niemann's skill, combined with the World Team's strategic depth, made this event an extraordinary display of collaborative thinking in chess."

Building on Historic Moments in Chess

Taking inspiration from Garry Kasparov's iconic matches, including his famed bout against IBM's Deep Blue, "Hans Niemann vs. You" is a reflection of how chess continues to evolve. This match, integrating a collective intelligence approach with AI, points toward the future of chess as both a traditional game and a dynamic, tech-enabled experience.

For more information, visit: www.worldchess.com or contact:

About World Chess PLC

World Chess PLC is a London-based leader in chess gaming and entertainment and serves as the official commercial partner of Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE). The company operates chessarena.com, the only platform to offer FIDE-recognized online ratings, and is known for hosting high-profile chess tournaments, including World Chess Championship matches. Through innovative partnerships and projects, World Chess seeks to expand the appeal of chess to both traditional players and modern audiences.