World Chess is only active applicant for .chess

World Chess PLC (LSE: CHSS), the official FIDE gaming platform, is pleased to announce that it is the only active applicant for .chess, the internet address of the game. Subject to approval from the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (“ICANN”), World Chess is positioned to operate the registry for the sport without a contested allocation process.

Highlights

World Chess is the only active applicant for .chess. The sole competing application, filed by a US company, has been deactivated, according to ICANN.

The name is not currently contested, so no auction process is expected.

A domain registry generates recurring revenue: registrants pay every year to keep their names. The .chess registrant base would include federations, clubs, academies, coaches, tournaments and players worldwide as well as wider members of the global chess community.

The application is backed by FIDE and endorsed by national chess federations. It is one of 16 community applications among 1,615 filed globally in this round.

Building the infrastructure of chess

World Chess has spent a decade building chess infrastructure, from the lookbook to official ratings online. It runs the platform where players earn FIDE-recognised ratings online and the Armageddon television league, and it has organised World Championship matches. .chess adds the layer underneath: the sport's own address on the internet, where a domain name shows that a federation, club or tournament is genuinely part of the game.

Commercial rationale

Domain registries are long-lived businesses. Names renew annually and registrants seldom move once an address is established. World Chess would operate the .chess registry. FIDE, the sport’s governing body, endorses the application, will coordinate the allocation of names to its national federations, and will share in the revenue. Registration will be open to people and organisations with a verified connection to chess as per FIDE and ICANN guidelines.

Ilya Merenzon, Chief Executive Officer of World Chess, commented:

"Chess is the world's biggest sport without its own address. Basketball has one. Rugby has one. Even .pizza has one. With FIDE, we applied to fix that. If approved, .chess becomes the sport's verification layer: if it ends in .chess, it's the real thing."

Next steps

A period for public comment and objections follows until 16 March 2027, and the Company will invite federations, clubs and players to register their support during it. Evaluation is expected to conclude in the first half of 2027. Approval is not guaranteed, and .chess names will be available for registration only after approval. The Company will update the market on material developments.