The YGG Play Summit’s Anichess tournament concluded with a dramatic showdown, crowning johnfdong as champion. The tournament featured eight competitors in the Individual category vying for a share of the US$10,000 prize pool. The champion, who took home US$3,000 in USDT, also secured a one-year ambassador contract with Anichess.

Remarkably, this was johnfdong’s first month playing Anichess, a game that combines traditional chess mechanics with magical elements. Leveraging his expertise in classic chess, he adapted quickly to the game's unique dynamics. In recounting his participation, johnfdong shared; 

“I just happened to come across the post on X, and I wrote a comment saying maybe I should join. I was actually supposed to be playing DOTA that day, but when I found out that Anichess was holding a tournament, I thought, ‘Wow, this is new.’ So I joined, and now here we are.”

YGG Play Summit Anichess Tournament Crowns Champion

About Anichess

Developed by Animoca Brands, Anichess reimagines chess by incorporating a "spell" mechanic, adding layers of strategy and complexity to the beloved game. The platform is free-to-play and hosts regular online tournaments, making it accessible to players globally. The game is supported by partnerships with Animoca Brands, Chess.com, and Team Secret, as well as collaborations with prominent chess figures like Magnus Carlsen and Anish Giri.

Future updates promise additional game modes and features to enhance the player experience. Brian Chan, VP of Operations and Projects at Animoca Brands and Head of Anichess, expressed excitement about the tournament's success. “Today is the first of many tournaments that will come in Southeast Asia,” Chan said, acknowledging the participation of over 500 players in the qualifiers.

Anichess x Team Secret

Highlights of YGG Play Summit

The Anichess championship was one of several high-profile esports events at the YGG Play Summit, a five-day celebration of gaming and web3. The summit also featured:

• MOBA Arena of Faith Tournament: Sylphy Academy emerged victorious.
• Indus Battle Royale Tournament (November 20): Showcasing SuperGaming’s battle royale.
• Parallel Trading Card Game Invitational (November 21): Competing for a US$100,000 prize pool.

European esports organization Team Secret added to the event's excitement by hosting a meet-and-greet with Filipino fans. Beyond esports, the summit offered a rich agenda, including our first in-person GAM3 Awards, a cosplay competition, and the premiere of “Metaverse Filipino Worker”, a docuseries exploring Filipinos' integration into the web3 ecosystem.

Attendees also enjoyed a Gamer Expo showcasing 30 new and upcoming web3 games, with demos and showmatches featuring notable web3 personalities. The YGG Play Summit and its featured events, including Anichess, demonstrate the potential of web3 to reshape gaming and esports, providing new opportunities for players and audiences worldwide.