Asian Chess Federation announces esports push with ‘echess’ initiative

The Asian Chess Federation (ACF) has announced an initiative it calls echess, aiming to push the narrative that esports and chess should be an official sport recognized by the IOC.

The initiative was announced by the ACF at the FIDE Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary in collaboration with Checkmate LiveACF’s official online broadcast, data and tournament platform partner.

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The echess initiative will launch in October 2024 and will see AFC host a series of official tournaments and educational events. As part of the partnership, national federations in Asia will have the opportunity to organize chess player and community programs.

The initiative aims to capitalize on the remarkable growth that the digital chess community has experienced in recent years. According to a press release, leading online platforms have seen their user base grow by more than 400% since 2020.

In collaboration with Checkmate Live, ACF aims to create new growth opportunities in both over-the-board traditional chess and esports chess.

With Abu Dhabi set to host the 2028 Chess Olympiad, ACF says the timing of the initiative works in its favor. The organization sees this as an opportunity to draw attention to the region in the field of chess and esports.

Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Asian Chess Federation, attended the FIDE Olympaid and stated in his opening speech: “As the Asian Chess Federation is known for its initiatives, I would like to take this opportunity to encourage all of us to be pioneers in the field of electronic chess.

“Both the International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Council of Asia are increasingly integrating esports into their events, and chess, recognized as an esport, has a unique opportunity to shine in this area.

“In light of this, I am pleased to announce that we are adopting what we will call the ‘Echess Initiative’. This will position us at the forefront of the electronic chess movement and ensure that Asia leads the way in innovation and progress within the chess world.”

There is a growing overlap between chess and esports, as digital chess companies have historically blurred the lines between the two. Chess.com recently teamed up with Animoca Brands to launch Anichess, a competitive chess game with video game-like spells and skills.