RCS - World Chess PLC - Comments on Vladimir Kramnik's Chess.com Complaint

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RNS Number : 6641J  World Chess PLC  22 May 2025

World Chess Plc
("World Chess" or the "Company" or the "Group")

 

World Chess Comments on Media Report of Vladimir Kramnik's EU Complaint
Against Chess.com

 

London, 22 May 2025 - World Chess Plc (LSE: CHSS), a leading chess
organisation committed to expanding the global appeal of chess, notes a recent
media report published by Kommersant that former World Chess Champion
Vladimir Kramnik has submitted a formal complaint to the European Commission
regarding the conduct of Chess.com, the world's largest online chess platform.

According to the report, Mr. Kramnik alleges a range of issues in his filing,
including:

·      Abuse of a dominant position in the online chess market

·      Lack of transparency in anti-cheating practices

·      Retaliation against players who publicly raise concerns

The report states that Mr. Kramnik's complaint includes over 60 pages of
documentation and 14 formal allegations, and has been received by relevant EU
regulatory bodies. It also notes that further action may be considered in the
United States.

World Chess strongly supports calls for improved transparency, accountability,
and procedural fairness in online chess - principles that align with Mr.
Kramnik's publicly stated concerns.

World Chess has long championed these values through:

·      Official FIDE-recognised games with externally auditable rules;

·      Transparent anti-cheating protocols, applied through a documented
process;

·      Verified identities using government ID and federation
credentials; and

·      A publicly stated commitment to fairness, due process, and data
privacy.

As chess continues to grow as a professional and digital-first global sport,
World Chess remains committed to building trust across all stakeholders -
players, fans, regulators, and institutions.

Ilya Merenzon, CEO of World Chess, commented:

"Chess.com has become a highly influential force in the global chess
ecosystem. However, as with any dominant platform, concerns around
transparency and accountability are natural and increasingly voiced within the
community. We believe that the chess world benefits when procedures -
especially related to fair play - are visible, challengeable, and governed by
clear rules.

Mr. Kramnik's decision to elevate these issues to a regulatory level is
significant. Regardless of the outcome, it reflects a broader shift toward
formal oversight in digital chess, which we view as a positive step."

For more information, visit: www.worldchess.com (http://www.worldchess.com/)
or contact:

 

 

 World Chess                                    merenzon@worldchess.com

 Ilya Merenzon, CEO

 Novum Securities Limited - Financial Adviser  +44 (0) 20 7399 9400

 David Coffman / Anastassiya Eley

 

Notes to Editors

About World Chess Plc

World Chess (LSE: CHSS) is a London-based chess gaming and entertainment
company and Fédération Internationale des Échecs ('FIDE') official
commercial partner. World Chess organised the FIDE Championship Matches in the
USA, and the UK, and revolutionised the sport by signing the biggest media
partnerships in history. World Chess develops Armageddon, the chess league for
prime-time television. World Chess also runs FIDE Online Arena, the exclusive
official chess gaming platform. More at worldchess.com
(https://worldchess.com/) .

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