The Chess24 Story
Chess24 launched in 2014 in Hamburg, Germany, and quickly became known for its premium live tournament coverage featuring top grandmasters as commentators. Players like Peter Svidler, Jan Gustafsson, and Lawrence Trent became beloved figures in the chess community through Chess24's broadcasts.
Beyond broadcasts, Chess24 offered online play, video lessons, and tactics training. It carved out a niche as the "premium" chess platform — smaller than Chess.com but with a loyal community that valued its commentary quality.
The Acquisition and Shutdown
In December 2022, Chess.com acquired the Play Magnus Group (which included Chess24) for $82.9 million. For about a year, Chess24 continued operating, but in December 2023, Chess.com announced that Chess24 would close permanently.
The stated reasons were aging technology and high maintenance costs — it was more efficient to consolidate everything into Chess.com rather than maintain two parallel platforms. Chess24 shut down on January 31, 2024, and its domain now redirects to Chess.com's events pages.
What Was Lost
For many chess fans, Chess24's closure meant losing a distinct community and commentary style. Chess.com has absorbed some of the talent and content, but the experience isn't identical. The Chess24 broadcasts had a particular personality — more informal, more personality-driven — that some fans feel hasn't fully carried over.
Where Former Chess24 Users Went
Most Chess24 users migrated to one of three places:
Chess.com — The natural destination, especially for those who valued the tournament broadcasts and video content. Chess.com has the largest feature set and absorbed much of what made Chess24 special.
Lichess — For players who valued Chess24's less commercial, community-driven atmosphere. Lichess is 100% free and ad-free, funded by donations.
Chessiverse — For players interested in AI opponents. Chess24 never offered bot play, but players looking for new chess experiences after the shutdown have discovered Chessiverse's unique approach to human-like AI opponents.
What Chessiverse Offers That Chess24 Didn't
Chess24 was primarily a broadcast and community platform. It never focused on AI opponents or bot play. Chessiverse fills a completely different niche:
- 1,000+ AI opponents with unique personalities and human-like play
- Opening-specific practice with bots matched to your skill level
- No social friction — no disconnects, no trash talk, available 24/7
- 500+ opening guides each paired with recommended practice bots
If you're a former Chess24 user exploring new chess platforms, Chessiverse won't replace the broadcasts and community you loved — but it might introduce you to a style of chess practice you've never tried before.
Alternatives Worth Considering
- Chessiverse vs Chess.com — The platform that acquired Chess24
- Chessiverse vs Lichess — Free, community-driven alternative
- Best Chess Bots Online — If you're exploring AI chess for the first time
Final Verdict
Chess24 is gone, and that's a genuine loss for the chess community. Chess.com is the direct successor for broadcast content and online play. Chessiverse serves a completely different purpose — it's the best platform for playing against human-like AI opponents. Former Chess24 users who try Chessiverse aren't replacing what they lost; they're discovering something new.
Chess24 shutdown information verified as of April 2026. Visit chess.com for current Chess.com features.