Chess.com acquires Play Magnus Group to join forces

Popular chess games platform Chess.com announced on Wednesday that it has made an offer to acquire Play Magnus Group. The offer, which has been accepted, is expected to be finalized within the next 6-8 weeks, the company said in a press release. 

Founded in 2007 by Erik Allebest, Chess.com’s website and mobile apps now have over 90 million members around the world who play over 10 million chess games every day. The company currently has 400 remote workers. 

Play Magnus Group was founded in 2013 by Magnus Carlsen, who won the world chess championship the same year. The group currently has 4 mobile titles, Magnus Trainer, Play Magnus, Knight Runner and Tactics Frenzy, which have been downloaded over 4 million times through the app stores so far. The company also offers online courses and resources for those who want to learn how to play chess or advance their skills. 

Also Read: The 8 Best Chess Apps for iOS and Android

Chess.com Chief Chess Officer Daniel Rensch said, “This is a special time for chess. More people are playing and watching chess than ever before. Events like PogChamps, the Speed Chess Championship, and the Champions Chess Tour have changed the game forever. We believe there is an opportunity here to take chess to new heights by combining our efforts, and we are seizing that opportunity.“

Play Magnus Group founder Magnus Carlsen said, “We’ve had a very positive experience talking about the possibilities for the future, and I’m very excited to be a part of it … I’m excited to play in the Speed Chess Championship again. I have a score to settle.”