World Chess is the leading chess company that is developing and reinventing chess for the modern consumer — more than 600 million of them, combining tradition and innovation to create experiences that engage.
Founded in 2012, we’ve taken on the mission to make chess more accessible and appealing worldwide. We run FIDE Online Arena, the official platform of the International Chess Federation, where players can earn their FIDE-recognized ratings online. We’re behind the Armageddon Championship Series, known for its thrilling, rapid-fire matches, and we’re launching the World Chess Tour to bring together the game’s top players in a series of elite competitions.
We develop the official World Chess products, from our iconic championship sets to innovative digital tools that make following and playing chess more intuitive and exciting. You know the chess set used in the World Chess Championship Matches? Well, we designed and made it. We also pioneered the concept of bar-led chess clubs, because chess has changed, and so should the places we play it.
We’ve introduced chesscasting for live events, developed virtual reality broadcasts, and even turned chess moves into unique musical compositions—showing that there’s always room for fresh ideas in a classic game.
We’re a long-term commercial partner of FIDE, the chess governing body. With headquarters in London and offices in Berlin, our reach is global, yet we remain focused on building a community that values quality, thoughtful design, and the joy of playing and watching chess.
Chess is getting younger!
SENIOR LEADERSHIP
Ilya Merenzon, Chief Executice Officer
Merenzon who cofounded World Chess in 2014, was educated in the US and holds an MPhil in Economics and an MBA. Ilya led a successful communications and government relations practice in New York, and his clients included the New York Stock Exchange and the New York Times. Ilya advised on several IPOs in the US. He has won several awards for his work in communications and finance. He lives in Berlin and London.
Matvey Shekhovtsov, COO
Matvey obtained a master’s degree in International Economic Law at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations and a Master degree of European and French Economic Law at Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne University.
His fields of expertise include tax planning, compliance, sports law and corporate governance. He has participated in numerous PR, sport, and media projects. He joined the World Chess project in 2014 and in his current position oversees day-to-day operations of the company with special focus on compliance, corporate governance, and finance.
The company’s main asset is its team — one of the most experienced groups when it comes to chess.