Anichess, an exciting new chess-based online strategy game, has officially launched its public alpha version. Developed by Animoca Brands in partnership with Chess.com and five-time World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen, Anichess brings a modern twist to the classic game of chess by introducing innovative spell mechanics and decentralized gameplay. The game’s unique combination of traditional chess with strategic magic spells aims to attract both seasoned chess players and gaming enthusiasts.

Partnership with YGG to Expand Anichess in Southeast Asia

In a major move to expand its reach, Anichess has partnered with Yield Guild Games (YGG) to distribute the game throughout Southeast Asia. This region, which has already proven to be one of the game’s top markets, is home to a vibrant gaming and chess community. YGG’s involvement will help Anichess tap into this growing market by engaging with local players, students, and gaming enthusiasts across guilds and institutions.

New Game Modes and Features in Public Alpha

The public alpha introduces several new features designed to enhance the gaming experience. Players can now participate in player-versus-player (PvP) matches, train against AI opponents, and unlock powerful spells as they progress through the game. Anichess has also added four new game modes:

• Ranked Match – Climb the leaderboard by competing against others
• Quick Match – A fast-paced version for casual play
• Friend Match – Challenge your friends to a game
• Bot Match – Practice against AI-controlled opponents

These features build on the game’s earlier player-versus-environment (PvE) spell chess puzzles, creating a more comprehensive and immersive experience for players.

Upcoming Tournament Showcased at YGG Play Summit

To celebrate the partnership with YGG, Anichess will host a tournament starting in October, with the final rounds taking place at the YGG Play Summit in November in Manila, Philippines. The event will feature Southeast Asia’s top chess and gaming talent, offering players a chance to showcase their skills in front of a global audience. This tournament will highlight the new PvP features and further solidify Anichess’ presence in the region.

Brian Chan, the head of Anichess, emphasized the importance of the Southeast Asian market, noting that the region’s large and passionate chess community is crucial to the game’s growth. “Our partnership with YGG expands our reach to a diverse audience across Southeast Asia,” Chan said. “Engaging these audiences will help us realize our vision of delivering an engaging, community-centric, and decentralized experience to a wide global audience.”

YGG’s Excitement for the Partnership

Gabby Dizon, co-founder of Yield Guild Games, shared his enthusiasm for the collaboration, highlighting the Philippines’ active gaming and chess scene. “The Philippines has always had a very active competitive gaming community. Of course, that includes chess. We’re excited to see the YGG community dive into this new take on one of the world’s oldest competitive games,” Dizon stated.

Since its soft launch in January 2024, Anichess has gained significant traction, with over one million registered wallets and 30,000 monthly active players. The community has been active, solving more than 50 million puzzles and spending over 14 million minutes in-game.

With its free-to-play model, Anichess makes the world of Web3 gaming accessible to everyone, whether they are experienced chess players or complete novices looking for a fun new challenge.

Anichess continues to push the boundaries of Web3 gaming by combining the strategic depth of chess with innovative gameplay mechanics. As the game evolves and new features are introduced, players can expect even more engaging content, tournaments, and community-driven events. With the strong support of YGG and a rapidly growing player base, Anichess is set to become a major player in the decentralized gaming space.

Where to Play

Anichess is available for free and can be accessed at www.anichess.com. Players can also stay updated on the game’s latest developments by following Anichess on X (formerly Twitter) and joining its active Discord community.