Anichess Secures $1.8 Million Funding Round Led by Sfermion and Amber Group
Anichess, the innovative chess-based online strategy game developed in collaboration with Chess.com and five-time World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen, has successfully concluded a funding round totaling US$1.8 million.
The investment, led by Sfermion and Amber Group, saw participation from Fenbushi Capital, Aspen Digital, SNZ Capital, and other notable contributors.
The funds raised will be allocated towards game development, marketing initiatives, and team expansion.
Anichess, a Web3 gaming project born from the partnership between Animoca Brands and Chess.com, introduces a fresh tactical twist to the traditional game of chess.
The game features spells that unlock new strategies and gameplay, challenging players to reimagine the rules of classical chess while uncovering the rich lore within the game’s universe.
Just in! 📢
— Anichess (@AnichessGame) April 25, 2024
We've secured a $1.8M investment to continue our mission:
♟️ Modernizing the Chess Experience
📈 Onboarding New Audiences
🤝 Empowering the Community
The funding round was led by @Sfermion_ & @ambergroup_io, with support from @fenbushi, @AspenDigitalAMP, and… https://t.co/wV3SsaBFqR
Since its inception, Anichess has garnered significant attention. In 2023, the game secured a US$1.5 million seed round to enhance chess’s engagement and accessibility.
January 2024 marked the launch of Anichess’s player-versus-environment (PvE) daily chess puzzles, attracting over 1,000,000 registered players and maintaining an active user base of 150,000 daily active users. These players have collectively solved over 50 million chess puzzles.
The introduction of Anichess’s Season 1 leaderboard in March 2024, which ranks players based on points accumulated from daily puzzles and Orbs of Power collected through gameplay and social events, further heightened excitement.
Anichess’s anticipated online player-versus-player (PvP) mode is set to debut in Q2 2024, promising even more thrilling experiences for players.
Thus was born Anichess. #chesswithadropofmagic pic.twitter.com/0locNY0zMh
— Anichess (@AnichessGame) April 19, 2024
Dan Patterson, general partner of Sfermion, expressed enthusiasm for Anichess’s potential, highlighting its role in shaping the future of Web3 gaming.
He stated, “We’re excited to support Animoca Brands and Chess.com with the roll-out of Anichess, which represents an exciting foray into Web3 gaming for the timeless and global classical game.”
Yat Siu, co-founder and executive chairman of Animoca Brands, emphasized the timeless appeal of chess and the game’s enduring legacy. Siu expressed pride in Anichess’s partnership with Chess.com and its commitment to delivering an updated gaming experience to players worldwide.
He said, “With its popularity, accessibility, and incredible strategic depth, chess is a classic game that has stood the test of time.”
Anichess is available for free play at www.anichess.com. Fans can stay updated on future developments by following Anichess on X and joining its Discord server.
For more Web3 news, check out the XGA newsfeed.
