Chess

Magnus Carlsen, Norwegian Chess and technology company Iterate have entered into a partnership to develop Fantasy Chess.

– I’ve seen how technology helped revolutionize the sport of chess. At the same time, we are only in the early stages of what opportunity can create. Now I’ll be able to go back to travel and get my ideas and input forward, and I’ve engaged with Norway’s leading environment for entrepreneurship. The goal is for us to be able to spread the sport of chess to new markets and environments, said Magnus Carlsen in a message.

Fantasy Chess is developed at the US company Pawn, which is owned by Magnus Carlsen, Norway Chess and technology company Iterate at equal stakes. The game will be available via beta launch during this year’s Norwegian Chess tournament in Stavanger at the end of May.

Magnus Carlsen was previously an entrepreneur. In 2012, he started Play Magnus, which was sold to Chess.com in 2022. Now he’s about to embark on a new entrepreneurial adventure.

– I was personally involved in the design and development of Fantasy Chess together with the teams at Norwegian Chess and Iterate. “Our inspiration is the Fantasy Premier League, and its ambition is to engage chess fans around the world,” said Carlsen.

Technology company Iterate is in charge of product development. Iterate which started in 2007 has 90 employees and turnover of NOK 90 million. The company started as a consulting firm in 2007, but has gradually changed business to also developing and investing in new companies. Since the beginning of the business, Iterate has shares in 32 new startup companies.

– The secret behind success with digital products is building teams across multiple environments. Our coders, designers, and product managers have a solid track record of assisting startups and established companies, both with incubation, scaling, and further development. This creates a product culture where we are always looking for new ideas, encouragement and constellations. We couldn’t have had a better partner than Magnus Carlsen. Together with him and Norwegian Chess, we hope to create a unique product for the sport of chess, said Anders Haugeto, chairman and co-founder of Iterate.

Since 2013, Norwegian Chess has hosted a Norwegian Chess tournament in Stavanger, which has attracted the best players from around the world. The company is also involved in developing the sport of chess through several initiatives.

– Since the beginning of 2013, we have had the goal of challenging the sport of chess by thinking new things and creating a bigger audience for chess. From confessional boxes to armageddon to turning chess into a compelling TV product and sponsorship object, we’ve been pioneers in a relatively conservative sport. Therefore, we see it as a unique opportunity to bring together Magnus Carlsen and Iterate, who are also pioneers in their fields. Together, we will create a whole new experience for chess fans old and new alike.