Exclusive innovative strategy expands reach of traditional game to billions in line with Olympic vision
During the FIDE Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary, the Asian Chess Federation (ACF) announced a groundbreaking initiative called echess, signalling a major shift towards embracing esports and chess position as an official IOC-recognized sport. This initiative is being launched in partnership with Checkmate Live, ACF’s official online broadcast, data, and tournament platform partner.
Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the Asian Chess Federation, said during his opening remarks, “As the Asian Chess Federation is well-known for its initiatives, I would like to take this opportunity to encourage all of us to be pioneers in electronic chess. Both the International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Council of Asia are increasingly integrating esports into their events, and chess, being recognized as an esport, has a unique opportunity to shine in this space. In light of this, I am pleased to announce that we are adopting what we will call the ‘Echess Initiative.’ This will position us at the forefront of the electronic chess movement, ensuring that Asia leads the way in innovation and progress within the world of chess.”
Levelling up Online Chess
With a global base of over 700 million over-the-board (OTB) chess players, with a significant share sitting under the Asian Chess Federation’s territory, the online chess landscape has experienced unprecedented growth in recent years. The leading online platforms saw their user bases expand by over 400% since 2020. This explosive growth underscores the increasing popularity of online chess and the need for innovative solutions to meet the demands of modern players, while complementing the rich tradition of OTB chess.
Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Bin Sultan Al Nahyan commented on the initiative: “Our echess initiative, developed with our partner Checkmate Live, represents a significant step forward in our mission to promote chess across Asia. By embracing emerging technologies and leveraging our status as an IOC-recognized sport, we’re not only enhancing the player experience, but also opening up new opportunities for growth in both traditional chess and esports.”
David Jenns, Director of International Relations, who also spoke during the congress, “This is a considerable leadership and vision by His Highness Sheikh Sultan. There are over six billion gamers globally, many of them have interest in online chess. This gives the Asian Chess Federation the opportunity to extend its reach and opportunities to the region and enhance its mission that promotes sporting integrity and 21st century technology. The response from delegates and federations who love OTB but want to leverage and benefit from the best that technology can offer has been overwhelming. This partnership between ACF and Checkmate represents a significant step towards bridging the gap between traditional chess, online and the age of AI.”
Looking to the Future
This initiative comes at an exciting time for chess in Asia, with Abu Dhabi set to host the 2028 Chess Olympiad. The ACF sees this as an opportunity to showcase the region’s commitment to innovation in chess and esports.
Hisham Al Taher, Secretary-General of the ACF, added, “With echess and our partnership with Checkmate Live, we’re well-positioned to deliver an unforgettable experience that bridges the gap between traditional chess and the digital age, while reinforcing our standing in the Olympic movement.”
As the chess world continues to evolve, the Asian Chess Federation, through its echess initiative and partnership with Checkmate Live, is at the forefront, ready to shape the future of the game for generations to come. The ACF echess program will commence in October and will host a series of Official ACF tournaments and education events aimed to enhance the confederations' mission. National Federations will also have the opportunity to hold echess player and community programs.
Any Federation wishing to participate in this program should register at checkmate.live/echess
What is Echess?
Echess is the Asian Chess Federation’s (ACF) innovative initiative that fuses traditional chess with the dynamic world of esports. It features online supervised speed chess, fast-paced tournament formats, and speedruns for official ACF ratings. Designed for a global online audience, echess offers blitz, bullet, and rapid games, catering to players who thrive in high-intensity competitions. By integrating modern competition and esports formats, echess claims its rightful title of the King of Esports and Sports, positioning chess at the forefront of the global esports arena.
For more information, please contact:
Checkmate Live
David Jenns MA LLM FRGS
Director International Relations
+971506180752
david@whitewolfconsultancy.com
Asian Chess Federation
Hisham Al Taher
Secretary-General
Asian Chess Federation
asianchessfederation@yahoo.com
About the Asian Chess Federation
The Asian Chess Federation, (ACF), is the international governing body of chess across the Asian Continent. As the largest continental federation, the ACF’s membership comprises 55 national associations across Asia, the Middle East, and Oceania. Its headquarters are in Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates, and its President is His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
Official website: https://asianchess.com/
About Checkmate Live
Checkmate Live is the ACF’s official online broadcast, data, and tournament platform partner.
Key Features of Checkmate Live:
- Sixth-i: A proprietary AI-powered anti-cheat system that maintains the integrity of online competitions
- Arbiter Mode: Cloud-based monitoring system with Sixth-i Anti-cheat co-pilot, providing Federation partners with powerful tools to supervise official competitions
- Integrated blockchain technology for transparent rights management
- Evidence-based and Blackbox AI integrations: Advanced AI techniques for robust and unbiased fair play detection, prevention, and enforcement. For more information, visit checkmate.live/
