Updated
Updated · FIDE · Sep 1
FIDE, World Chess Seek .chess Domain for 200+ Federations
Updated
Updated · FIDE · Sep 1

FIDE, World Chess Seek .chess Domain for 200+ Federations

3 articles · Updated · FIDE · Sep 1

Summary

  • ICANN has received FIDE and World Chess’s application for a .chess top-level domain, the first chance since 2012 to create a dedicated web address for the sport.
  • The bid was filed as a community application, a status that could give .chess an edge if rival applicants seek the same string through ICANN’s priority evaluation process.
  • If approved, every federation, club, tournament and titled player could register verified .chess addresses, replacing today’s fragmented mix of .com, .org and country-code domains.
  • FIDE would sponsor the domain and share in its revenue, while London-listed World Chess funds the project and would operate the extension as part of FIDE’s broader digital infrastructure push.
  • Registration will open only after ICANN approval; World Chess has already opened an early-access list for updates and future domain availability.

Insights

Will FIDE's strategic community bid secure the .chess domain, or could deep-pocketed tech rivals snatch this digital territory away?
Beyond creating a trusted online home, is the massive financial gamble on .chess actually a lucrative revenue play for organizers?