VADR Media acquires Szuperchess for Checkmate.live platform

VADR Media has announced the acquisition of European-based Szuperchess, a company known for its AI Gaze tracking anti-cheat technology, for an undisclosed sum.

The acquisition comes in tandem with Checkmate.live’s recent partnership with Tencent Cloud, paving the way for a new era of fair play in the online chess and gaming world.

VADR managing director John McRae stated: “When we initiated the project, we identified the issue of cheating in online chess as a significant fair play and business risk, especially with cash prize pools being added into the equation. After considerable efforts by our team, the acquisition of Szuperchess, partnerships with key governance bodies and our newly minted partnership with Tencent Cloud, we’re ready to bring the fight to those who don’t play fair.”

Szuperchess’s AI and computer vision-based technology has been billed the “Zoom for chess tournaments,” as it monitors players in real-time during competitive matches to ensure a level playing field.

The acquisition aligns with VADR Media’s development of Checkmate.live, an esports-first chess tournament and broadcasting platform that uses technology to enable players of all skill levels to compete for cash prizes, credits, and collectibles.

Joan Buch Prades, founder of Szuperchess, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition, stating, “Our proprietary technology gives Checkmate a significant competitive edge and the ability to scale cash tournaments globally. Szuperchess has been battle-tested by grandmasters across multiple tournaments, and I’m excited to join their AI and integrity team and help expand its capabilities.”

Checkmate’s commitment to fair play extends beyond chess, with plans to implement the acquired technology in mind sports, video games, igaming, and metaverse projects.

VADR, a member of the Esports Integrity Commission, has also secured an exclusive partnership with the Asian Chess Federation and Arab Esports Federation, establishing Checkmate as their exclusive tournament platform, data, and broadcast partner. The two international Federations represent 73 national chess and esports Federations in Africa, Asia, the Middle East (and GCC) and Oceania.

The strategic partnership with Tencent Cloud will further bolster Checkmate’s mission to promote fair play in chess and beyond. Leveraging Tencent Cloud’s services and technical expertise, both parties plan to accelerate chess as an esport and ensure the integrity of the competitive play.

Stephen Hanna, director of Global Strategy and Partnerships at the Esports Integrity Commission, added: “The VADR team have shown that they are gearing up to be leaders in promoting integrity measures in chess and online, and we are delighted to be working with them to bring fair play and true competitive integrity to casual and tournaments.”

Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Shakboot Al Nahayan, president Asian Chess Federation (ACF), commented: “Technology has played an important part in the journey and development of sports over the years, often overlooking chess. In recent years, the onset of online gaming and internet improvements has enabled greater access globally. The lack of effective integrity measures for online chess have also been a concern for the community hindering greater involvement.

The partnership with Checkmate will allow the Asian Chess Federation to deliver competitive online tournaments and increase opportunities for our players. A key determining factor in the decision to partner with Checkmate was their commitment to improving the integrity of online chess and their ability to successfully create a solution that satisfies ACF’s vision for the future. Once launched, ACF will be able to host official online events that are inclusive, equitable and will provide even greater access for our members.”.

Read: Checkmate.live joins forces with Tencent Cloud