Anichess, a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based gaming firm Animoca Brands, has on Thursday announced the completion of an oversubscribed seed round that raised $1.5 million.

The round saw participation from investors including GameFi Ventures, Coin Operated Group, Koda Capital, Bing Ventures, 708 Capital, Asymmetry Capital, and others, Anichess said in a statement.

It said the funding will be used by Anichess to continue the development of its innovative decentralized chess game, expand its team, and grow its community.

“The strong support expressed by investors validates Anichess’s vision of delivering unparalleled experiences for chess players, gamers, and fans,

“Partnering with Chess.com is an incredible opportunity to work with some of the leading chess players and influencers across the world and to bring chess into the open metaverse,” said Yat Siu, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Animoca Brands.

Anichess is an upcoming decentralized chess-inspired game by Animoca Brands in partnership with Play Magnus Group (PMG) and its Champions Chess Tour.

Anichess is dedicated to preserving the core ethos of chess as a predominantly skill-based and free-to-play game.

While maintaining the core rules of the classic game, Anichess will provide enriched chess gameplay with an added layer of strategy through an innovative spell mechanic that consists of a range of offensive, defensive, and counter tactics.

There will also be an emphasis on esport-like elements to expand the gaming experience and offer new and captivating challenges to players.

Following the acquisition of PMG by Chess.com in December 2022, which has expanded the reach of the Champions Chess Tour even further, Anichess will be presented to millions of chess fans to deliver innovative experiences, grow the global chess community, and empower players through decentralization.

“We are excited about partnering with Animoca Brands to provide some of the top players and influencers in our ecosystem with a fun and different chess experience as part of our overall mission to grow the game by presenting chess in new ways to different audiences,” said Grant Lee, Chief Strategy Officer of Chess.com.

Chess.com is an online platform and community dedicated to the game of chess.

With over 100 million registered users, Chess.com offers a wide range of features and resources for players of all levels, from beginners to grandmasters.

The platform provides opportunities for players to learn, practice, compete, and connect with other chess enthusiasts from around the world.

Chess.com’s mission is to promote the enjoyment and growth of chess, fostering a global community that shares a passion for this timeless game.

Animoca Brands and Lympo partner with Play Magnus on chess-inspired blockchain game “Anichess”