This discussion details the plan for routine digital chess gaming events on polkadot with chessonchain as a product for one year, Chess is a timeless game with an audience of millions of gamers world wide, with the industry and fame growing steady, chessonchain is building distribution channels to create the biggest chess community onchain.
Chess will never go away, and people will not ever stop playing the game (ChessOnchain), this shows a good distribution and investment opportunity polkadot should capitalize and invest on, it only grows as we innovate and does not decrease, this also helps onboard users to web3 and creates onchain transactions, we’ve seen adoption on polkadot of over 5k gamers and 1k+ checkmate NFTson unique network through some marketing campaigns in the past, but that is not enough to maintain community and culture, routine distribution is key, it works better than marketing campaigns with big incentives that just attract gamers leeching for prices, with a distribution plan we can get detailed number of events, routine gaming culture and competitions to create a brand and community for polkadot and chessonchain .
This proposal requests funding to support a tech upgrade and a new ChessOnChain product release focused on launching subscription-based features, enabling sustainable revenue models, and executing a 12-month Polkadot-branded chess distribution calendar through streaming, tournaments competitions and daily bounties.
If approved, ChessOnChain commits to advertising the platform as “Sponsored by Polkadot OpenGov” for one full year, irrespective of whatever chain a user uses, the add will pop up, positioning Polkadot as the leading blockchain ecosystem for on-chain chess and real-time gaming.
Currently ChessOnChain is a multichain chess gaming network, as we evolve, we plan to launch our L1 with Substrate technology, acting as the core data coordination, and settlement layer. Players can authenticate, play chess, participate in tournaments, earn rewards, and mint verifiable game data (Checkmate NFTs), without needing deep blockchain knowledge.
Through previous campaigns, ChessOnChain has validated:
The project is now transitioning from activation-only growth to revenue-enabled sustainability, aligned with OpenGov’s long-term ecosystem goals.
Funding will support a game upgrade and the launch of tiered subscription packages, forming the foundation of ChessOnChain’s long-term revenue model.
The current version play.chessonchain.io will be available to unsubscribed users while allowing unrestricted game play while we release our first subscription tier package with lots of features and incentive generating opportunities .
Planned subscription features include:
This approach mirrors how leading chess platforms monetize today, while introducing on-chain transparency and ownership.
ChessOnChain is actively implementing diversified revenue streams, reducing long-term dependency on grants and ensuring platform longevity.
Recurring monthly or annual subscriptions for premium features, analytics, and
competitive and financial access.
ChessOnChain is developing skill-based wager matches using escrow smart contracts:
This model mirrors paid competitive chess matches and prize-based play already common in online chess ecosystems.
These function as digital trophies and memorabilia, similar to collectibles sold by traditional chess platforms.
ChessOnChain will execute a 12-month Polkadot-focused distribution calendar.
If funded, ChessOnChain commits to:
This ensures long-term visibility rather than short-lived marketing exposure.
This referendum funds more than a product update. It enables:
By approving this proposal, OpenGov supports a project transitioning from successful campaigns into a durable, revenue-generating platform that continuously markets Polkadot to a global chess audience.