Chess24

Chess24 was one of the most respected chess platforms on the internet, known for world-class tournament broadcasts and grandmaster-led commentary. Founded in 2014 by German GM Jan Gustafsson and entrepreneur Enrique Guzman, the platform launched from offices in Hamburg, Germany, and Gibraltar with a clear mission: deliver the best live chess coverage anywhere online.

What set Chess24 apart was its broadcast quality. Commentary teams led by Gustafsson, Peter Svidler, Yasser Seirawan, Tania Sachdev, and Peter Leko brought a depth of insight that few competitors could match. The platform offered live tournament coverage in up to 10 languages, with an interface that let viewers see standings, pairings, engine analysis, and individual games all on one screen. It also featured online play, video courses, and a training section, though its real strength was always the broadcast experience.

In March 2019, Chess24 merged with Magnus Carlsen's Play Magnus AS, making the Chess24 founders the largest shareholders in the combined company. Then in 2022, Chess.com acquired Play Magnus Group in an $82.9 million deal, bringing Chess24 under the Chess.com umbrella. By December 2023, Chess24 announced it would shut down, and the site officially closed on January 31, 2024. The domain now redirects to Chess.com's events page.

Though Chess24 is no longer an active platform, its legacy is significant. It raised the standard for how chess tournaments are broadcast online and helped prove that high-quality commentary could sustain a chess media business. Many of its commentators and production staff continue to work in chess media, and the Banter Blitz format it popularized remains a fan favorite.