About World Chess
About World Chess
The Official Home of Competitive Chess Online
Chess has been played for fifteen centuries. It has crowned world champions for over a hundred years. But until now, there was no way to earn an official chess rating or title by playing online.
World Chess changed that.
We are the official partner of FIDE, the International Chess Federation, and the operator of the only platform where your online games count toward officially-recognized FIDE ratings and titles. When you play on WorldChess.com, you're not just playing—you're building a chess career that the world recognizes.
Our Story
World Chess was founded in 2012 with a simple ambition: to bring chess into the modern era without losing what makes it great.
We started by reimagining the World Chess Championship. Working with Pentagram, we introduced bold new design to chess broadcasting. We staged championship matches in New York, London, and Sochi that drew global audiences and pioneered pay-per-view for chess. For the first time, chess looked and felt like the serious competitive sport it has always been.
In 2020, we took over the FIDE Online Arena, becoming the only platform authorized to offer official FIDE-rated online play. In 2021, we became the first chess company to list on a major stock exchange—the London Stock Exchange (ticker: CHSS).
In 2023, we launched the Armageddon Championship Series, a global television event broadcast in over 150 countries. In 2025, we debuted The World Chess Show and unified our digital platform under WorldChess.com—now the home for official ratings, memberships, and FIDE online titles.
What Makes Us Different
Only on World Chess can you earn a FIDE Online Arena rating—one that reflects your real standing in the global chess community. Only here can you work toward and achieve official FIDE-recognized titles, from Arena Candidate Master to Arena Grandmaster.
We combine rigorous competition with training tools, puzzles, and broadcasts of elite events. Whether you're taking your first steps in rated play or preparing to face titled players, this is where serious chess lives.
Our Mission
To grow chess as a competitive sport—fairly, sustainably, and on a global scale. To honor chess's traditions while building the infrastructure the game deserves. To give every player, from beginner to grandmaster, access to games that count.
Investor Information
World Chess is publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker CHSS. For financial reports, governance information, and shareholder resources, visit our Investor Relations page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns World Chess? World Chess is a public company listed on the London Stock Exchange (ticker: CHSS), owned by our shareholders.
What is the FIDE Online Arena? The FIDE Online Arena is the official online platform of international chess, now integrated into WorldChess.com. It's the only place online where you can play FIDE-rated games and earn official FIDE titles—from Arena Candidate Master all the way to Arena Grandmaster.
How is World Chess different from other chess sites? Most chess platforms offer unrated games with internal rating systems. Only World Chess offers games that count toward official FIDE ratings and titles recognized worldwide.
When was World Chess founded? World Chess was founded in 2012 (originally as Agon) and has been FIDE's official commercial partner events ever since.