Kasparov Chess is a commercial internet chess server, internet forum and social networking website.[1] The former World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov is affiliated with this online chess club.[2]
| Type of business | Internet chess server |
|---|---|
Type of site | Social networking service |
| Available in | Multilingual |
| Founded | April 2021 |
| Headquarters | |
| Founder(s) | |
| CEO | Louis Germain |
| Key people | |
| Industry | Internet |
| Total equity | 5.4M$ |
| Parent | Vivendi |
| URL | kasparovchess |
| Registration | Required |
| Current status | Active |
Early history edit
KasparovChess.com domain was first used to launch Garry Kasparov's chess website in early 2000.[3] To commemorate its opening, Kasparov played a simul with around 30 junior players from around the world, many of them online on his own chess server in 2000.[4][5] Later, KasparovChess.com hosted a tournament of junior players.[6] Sometime after, the site became inactive, until this domain was used again in 2021.
Financing edit
Kasparov Chess is financed by private investors and Vivendi, through its subsidiary Keysquare,[7] a media conglomerate headquartered in Paris, France.[8] In October 2019, Keysquare was allocated a capital investment of €3.5 million Euros from Vivendi to start the project.[9]
Kasparov Chess has a freemium business model with a free option for some chess content coupled with a premium option charge of $13.99 monthly or $119.99 for a yearly subscription for all the available chess content.[2][10]
Chess content edit
Kasparov Chess offers chess puzzles, online chess, tutorials, articles, documentaries, podcasts[7] and a chess master class taught by Kasparov; however, some of these features are only available to members with a paid subscription.[11][2] At the launch of the company in April 2021, there will be available 50,000 exercises, 700 lessons and 400 hours of videos.[12]
"We are showing the world that there is so much more to chess than strategy and tactics...It is a way of life and a way of looking at the world. I hope to bring all people into this experience, even if they've never played before, because chess can help them become everything that they want to be."
— Garry Kasparov.[7]
Competition edit
In order to establish itself as a mainstream chess platform and a profit-making venture, Kasparov Chess will have to compete against many well-established Internet chess servers.[12] These include entirely free online chess servers, such as Lichess and Free Internet Chess Server, and the several commercial chess communities including Chess.com, Chess24, FIDE Online Arena, Internet Chess Club and Playchess offering similar freemium subscriptions for chess content as Kasparov Chess.
In 1999, Garry Kasparov and Israeli investors attempted to establish a commercial online chess club called Kasparov Chess Online that never reached a profitable status and became defunct in 2002.[10][9]
See also edit
External links edit
References edit
- ^ Chessbase: Vivendi and Garry Kasparov team up
- ^ a b c Fide News: Vivendi and Garry Kasparov team up to launch online platform
- ^ "2000 Braingames : World Chess Championship".
- ^ "Kasparov to Take on 30 at Once, Some Via Web".
- ^ "Photo: World Chess champion Kasparov brings the game to the Internet -".
- ^ "Students Face Ultimate Chess Challenge". Los Angeles Times. 30 June 2000.
- ^ a b c Vivendi And Chess Legend Garry Kasparov Team Up To Launch Online Platform Kasparovchess.com
- ^ Garry Kasparov launches a community-first chess platform
- ^ a b Chess Tech: Kasparovchess 2.0
- ^ a b Chess.com Kasparov Relaunches Online Platform
- ^ Kasparov Chess
- ^ a b Tech Crunch: Garry Kasparov launches a community-first chess platform