[[IMG::Chess.com logo]]

Chess.com has achieved a major milestone in terms of membership as it approaches its 20th anniversary. The online chess platform, established in 2005 and launched in 2007, has now surpassed 200 million members, with 1.5 million of them being paying users. Every day, more than 20 million chess games are played on the platform.

Albert Cheng, the chief growth officer at Chess.com, highlighted the enduring appeal of chess, which has been played for over 1,500 years. The platform itself has been around for almost two decades and has evolved significantly from its origins as a forum for real-life chess players. Today, Chess.com offers full chess matches against other players or bots, daily games and puzzles, chess-related news, streaming of competitions, and more.

One of the driving forces behind Chess.com’s growth has been its constant product innovation. For example, in 2021, the platform introduced an AI game review feature that provides players with a summary of their performance and suggests areas for improvement. This feature, along with others, aims to engage new users, particularly beginners, and nurture their passion for the game.

Chess.com has capitalized on the surge in interest in chess in recent years, particularly during the pandemic when many turned to online games for entertainment during lockdowns. The popularity of chess received a boost from Netflix’s miniseries “The Queen’s Gambit” in 2020, leading to a renewed interest in the game. The platform also had to enhance its infrastructure to meet the growing demand.

The global appeal of chess has also increased, with around 85% of new user registrations coming from outside the U.S. The current World Champion, Gukesh Dommaraju, is from India. Cheng noted that chess has attracted attention from various high-profile individuals, including F1 racing stars Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc engaging in online matches.

Looking ahead, Cheng emphasized the limitless potential for growth in chess and the importance of leveraging existing interest in the game to expand into new communities. He expressed excitement about the possibilities for Chess.com and its future prospects.