Anichess, the progressive chess-based online strategy game developed in partnership with Chess.com and five-time World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen, only recently announced the completion of a funding round of $1.8 million.

Anichess continues its expansion in the gaming world with a new strategic partnership with the renowned esports brand, Team Secret. This collaboration not only brings Team Secret’s extensive experience in web3 gaming but also sees their CEO, John Yao, joining Anichess as an advisor.

Anichess Partners with Team Secret Ahead of PvP Release

Crypto Game of Kings 

Anichess is a web3 gaming project developed in collaboration between Animoca Brands and Chess.com, the leading global online chess platform. Anichess provides a novel tactical twist on the classic game of chess by implementing spells that open up new strategies and gameplay, and that require players to rethink the rules of traditional chess as they uncover the expansive lore within the world of the gameboard.  

Annabelle Huang, managing partner of Amber Group, commented: "Anichess represents a refreshing take on one of the most classic games cherished by many generations and we are proud to support the team in realizing their vision of delivering an engaging, community-centric, and decentralized player experience. The enthusiastic response to the debut of spell chess puzzles is a testament to the team's execution capability and we look forward to the release of the main game later this year."

Anichess PvP Gameplay

Fresh New Funding

In 2023, Anichess closed an oversubscribed $1.5 million seed round - with the most recent funding round seeing $1.8 million raised. The round was led by Sfermion and Amber Group, with participation from Fenbushi Capital, Aspen Digital, SNZ Capital, and others.  Yat Siu, co-founder and executive chairman of Animoca Brands, commented on the announcement stating: 

“With its popularity, accessibility, and incredible strategic depth, chess is a classic game that has stood the test of time. One of the benefits of a game whose appeal is measured in centuries is the sophistication and passion of its community, and we are thrilled for Anichess to showcase our new and updated interpretation of the game of kings in partnership with Chess.com.”

Anichess Raises $1.8 Million

Over 1 Million Players

In January 2024, Anichess launched its player-versus-environment (PvE) daily chess puzzles and has since secured over 1,000,000 registered players while maintaining an active user base of 150,000 daily active users who have collectively solved over 50 million chess puzzles. 

Anichess’s Season 1 leaderboard was launched on 11 March 2024, ranking players based on points accumulated from solving daily puzzles and collecting Orbs of Power obtained through gameplay and participation in social events. Anichess’s online player-versus-player (PvP) game mode is expected to launch in Q2 2024.

Team Secret Big on Blockchain

Team Secret has a strong history in the web3 gaming sector, previously partnering with Offchain Labs' L3 network XAI in October 2023. Their involvement with Anichess is aimed at reinforcing the integration of chess into the esports arena, offering a platform for both new and seasoned chess players to play and learn.

John Yao, CEO of Team Secret, expressed his excitement about the partnership, saying: “Anichess is a promising twist on chess, with even more of what makes the original great: compelling tactics, broad recognition, and rewards for players willing to think outside the box and surprise opponents. I’m looking forward to guiding Anichess into the realm of esports and integrating the new chess platform into our dedicated community.”

More About Anichess?

Anichess, a browser-based game described as “classic chess with a drop of magic,” is a product of Animoca Brands, co-developed with Chess.com and multiple world chess champion Magnus Carlsen.

The game has been rolling out in phases throughout 2024, introducing new features and partnerships along the way. Notably, Anichess has secured new funding, partnered with Mon protocol, and is set to integrate the newly unveiled Checkmate ecosystem token C into its gameplay.

World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen

Role of Team Secret

As Anichess prepares to launch its PvP mode later in Q2 2024, Team Secret will play a crucial role in advising on game design and marketing the game to its dedicated esports community. This collaboration aims to enhance the player experience and expand the game's reach. Gamers and chess enthusiasts can stay updated and join the game through the Anichess website. For more information on Chess.com, and five-time World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen, please visit their respective websites.

Brian Chan, Head of Anichess, stated: “Esports has always been a core pillar of Anichess’ modernization of chess’ legacy. Anichess’s engaging visuals, tools to improve and thrilling spells make it an amazing platform for all competitors, regardless of chess experience. We look forward to those willing to take on the challenge when PvP arrives in-game soon.”

More About Animoca Brands?

Animoca Brands is a global leader in gamification and blockchain with a large portfolio of over 400 investments in web3 projects, with the mission to advance digital property rights and contribute to building the "open metaverse".

Animoca Brands Ecosystem

The company and its various subsidiaries develop and publish web3, crypto and blockchain games, traditional games, and other products, many of which are based on popular global brands including The Walking Dead, Power Rangers, MotoGP™, and Formula E. You can learn more about Animoca Brands and everything they are working on here.

Yat Siu, co-founder and executive chairman of Animoca Brands, says: "One of Animoca Brands’ core philosophies has always been to support and empower mission-aligned builders who believe in the vision of web3 and the open metaverse to usher in digital property rights for all."