FIDE and Avalanche Partner to Bring Chess into Web3
International chess organization FIDE is partnering with blockchain platform Avalanche to develop Web3 products for the beloved board game. With over 500 million players worldwide and major tournaments like the World Chess Championship and Chess Olympiad commanding millions of impressions, this partnership has the potential to revolutionize chess. As part of the deal, Avalanche and Core will sponsor FIDE events such as the 2022 World Rapid and Blitz Championships and invest in product development to bring chess into the digital age.
Ava Labs to Work with FIDE on Blockchain Solutions
Ava Labs will collaborate with FIDE to leverage blockchain technology to address challenges facing the chess world and create operational efficiencies for players and federations. This includes improving game integrity, welcoming new players, and driving innovation. Some specific opportunities on Avalanche include:
- Calculating official player ratings on the blockchain
- Publishing tournament data on the blockchain
- Adding personalized experiences on the blockchain
- Releasing a FIDE game explorer powered by on-chain game data
- Issuing tournament prize pools on Avalanche
FIDE: 100 Years of International Chess
FIDE was founded nearly 100 years ago and now connects 200 national associations through one international body. The federation is responsible for the World Chess Championships and some of the biggest matches played by legendary grandmasters such as Fischer, Kasparov, and Carlsen. In recent years, the ancient game has gone digital, with over 100 million people playing online chess regularly and participating in over 25 million digital matches every day. Now, chess is set to evolve again with the help of Avalanche.
CEO of FIDE Excited for “Unifying” Partnership
Emil Sutovsky, CEO of FIDE, said, “We are excited to get into this project. Ava Labs is one of the leaders or rather driving forces behind on-chain technologies, while FIDE is constantly working on improving players’ engagement and experience. Chess is a unique sport, and this cooperation will allow us to unify our community and strengthen the ties between players, clubs, federations, and FIDE.”
CEO of Ava Labs: “Limitless” Possibilities for Chess on Chain
Emin Gün Sirer, CEO of Ava Labs, added, “The possibilities created by bringing chess on-chain are about as limitless as the game of chess itself. We are thrilled to welcome FIDE to the Avalanche community and ushering chess into a new era together. On Avalanche, players all over the world will experience chess like never before.”
Partnership Kicks Off at 2022 World Rapid and Blitz Championship
The partnership between FIDE and Avalanche will be officially launched at the 2022 World Rapid and Blitz Championship in Almaty, Kazakhstan from December 25-30. Fans watching online and in person will see promotion for both Avalanche (AVAX) and Core, a free self-custody wallet designed for seamless and secure use of Web3 dApps.
About FIDE: The International Chess Federation
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) is the governing body of the sport of chess and regulates all international chess competitions. Recognized by the International Olympic Committee as a Global Sporting Organization in 1999, FIDE’s headquarters are located in Lausanne. Initially founded in 1924 in Paris, FIDE was one of the first International Sports Federations alongside governing bodies for sports such as football, cricket, swimming, and auto racing. It is now one of the largest, representing 199 countries through National Chess Federations.
Chess is a global sport with millions of players on every continent FIDE, the International Chess Federation, has announced a partnership with blockchain company Avalanche to develop Web3 products. As part of the partnership, Avalanche and its free, self-custody wallet, Core, will be featured as sponsors at FIDE tournaments, including the 2022 World Rapid and Blitz Championships, and invest in FIDE’s product development to bring chess into Web3. Ava Labs will work with FIDE to use blockchain to tackle challenges in chess and create operational efficiencies for players and federations, improve game integrity, and onboard new generations of players. The partnership will begin at the 2022 World Rapid and Blitz Championship in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
