Checkmate! Immortal game picks up €15. 5 million for its web3 chess platform | eu-startups

PARIS-BASED IMMORTAL GAME IS TAKING ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST FAMILIAR GAMES INTO THE ERA OF WEB3 AND HAS JUST PICKED UP €15.5 MILLION. THE STARTUP IS NOW PLANNING TO RAMP UP ITS GLOBAL

EXPANSION, TARGETING EUROPE, THE US AND INDIA. Chess is one of those games that has a certain immortality to it. It has been played for centuries, is referred to in many turns of phrase, is

regarded as a game of foresight and analytical thought, and today it is estimated to have about 800 million players worldwide.  The traditional black and white board has gone digital in

recent years with new tech platforms bringing it to a new generation that prefers to game online and securing its place in pop culture. It’s certainly been helped by the popularity of a

certain Netflix series as well as the growth of chess influencers on streaming platforms. Now, the digital game is getting elevated further as startup Immortal Game wins €15.5 million.  THE

FUNDING The €15.5 million Series A round was led by TCG crypto and includes several other leading crypto and entertainment VC specialists, such as Greenfield One, Caccius, Sparkle Ventures

(supported by the Sandbox Founders and Animoca  Brands) Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman’s 35V, Blockwall, Kraken Ventures, and Spice Capital.  Founded in 2021, the startup previously raised

about €3.5 million in seed funding in a round co-led by Cassius and Greenfield One that was also backed by GFC, Kraken Ventures, Moonfire, Kima Ventures, Blockwall and BlackPool DAO. The

Paris-based company is led by serial entrepreneurs Thomas Zaepffel, David Cingala and Geoffroy Mestrallet each with track records of building successful ventures. In addition, it already has

a strong team of experts in chess, tech and web3. Sebastien Borget, Co-Founder and COO at the Sandbox, Brian O’Hagan, Head of Growth at Sorare and Julien Bouteloup, a renowned tech

entrepreneur and investor all advise the company. Scott Frank, the Queen’s Gambit producer, is also an adviser to Immortal Game. CREATED FOR AND WITH THE CHESS COMMUNITY Powered by

blockchain, Immortal Game is aiming to elevate the gaming experience for online chess players around the world, who currently play over 20 million games daily, by leveraging web3 and

next-generation digital assets. Players can participate in live games, league tournaments and a robust set of learning tools and products. The 50 Grand Masters who serve as  Immortal Game

ambassadors will also be involved and regularly accessible on the platform so players can learn from the best. These GMs include World Blitz Champion Maxime  Vachier-Lagrave and India’s

youngest GM in history Pragganandhaa Rameshbabu.  Players also have the option to monetize their time, participation in the game and skill development through a state-of-the-art

Play&Earn platform, NFTs with chess utilities and distinct playing styles, and a marketplace with live auctions and instant buy. Immortal Game has also partnered with Immutable X, a

layer 2 gaming protocol, to bring their game onto the world’s leading public blockchain, Ethereum. Now with this funding, the team will be able to escalate the pace of product development

and expand globally.