The world’s most recognized chess grandmaster, Magnus Carlsen, has officially stepped into Web3, not just as a name on a project, but as an actual player. In a recent Twitch stream with GM Eric Hansen, Carlsen showcased his live gameplay on Anichess, a play-and-earn chess game that combines classical mechanics with spell-based gameplay, NFTs, and tokenized incentives.
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This marks a significant moment for both the chess and Web3 gaming communities: the fusion of a timeless sport with evolving digital economies.

What is Anichess?

Anichess is an on-chain strategy game that adds a unique layer to classic chess. The rules of movement still apply, but players can also equip their pieces with spells that introduce new mechanics like teleportation, decoys, and chain attacks.

These spells come from a 14 spell set which add a new strategic dimension and make each match more unpredictable. The game is built on blockchain infrastructure, allowing for digital ownership of assets and on-chain rewards for ranked competition.

The game has been in open alpha and is gradually gaining traction within both Web3 and mainstream gaming circles.

Carlsen’s participation isn’t just a marketing stunt. The reigning five-time World Chess Champion is famously picky about his endorsements and competitive appearances. His decision to play and stream Anichess suggests a genuine curiosity—if not confidence—in the idea of evolving chess for the next generation.

By showcasing his gameplay publicly, Carlsen helps bridge the gap between traditional chess audiences and Web3-curious players. It’s a signal to purists and skeptics alike: this isn’t chess being “gamified” for the sake of crypto, it’s chess being explored through a different lens.

Chess 2.0 in Action

In the Twitch stream hosted on Magnus Carlsen’s (maskenissen) channel, with over 370k followers. During the stream, Carlsen played against GM Eric Hansen in an Anichess match that was anything but traditional. The board looked familiar, but the action wasn’t.

Each player used activated spells such as:

• Slip – move a piece diagonally through an opponent’s spell zone.
  
  
• Bis-Hop 2.0 – leap bishop-style twice in a turn.
  
  
• Imposter – swap pieces with the opponent in secret.

It wasn’t just a new type of match, it was a new kind of chess logic, and viewers responded. The stream quickly racked up over 200,000 views, adding to the rising momentum around Anichess.

The Bigger Picture: Chess is Evolving

This moment isn’t just about Carlsen. It’s about how traditional games can adapt and evolve in the Web3 era. Anichess demonstrates that even a sport as ancient as chess can be reimagined, not replaced, with new layers of strategy, ownership, and community-driven incentives.

Web3 gaming has often been criticized for prioritizing tokens over gameplay. With Anichess, the inverse appears to be true: strong gameplay first, Web3 second. Carlsen’s participation helps validate that order.

And for players, it’s an invitation to experience chess in a new way, where play meets creativity, strategy meets ownership, and even world champions are still learning the rules.

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