If there’s one thing we know about BETBY, one of the major sportsbook providers in the international gaming industry, it’s that the company loves chess.
The Malta company counts chess as a core product in its Betby.Games portfolio, and has been working with chess legend Magnus Carlsen, a brand ambassador, since 2024.
It has now moved to expand its visibility in chess even further – move being the operative word. The company has signed a deal to become the “powering sponsor” of the MOVE Cup.
The newly announced tournament was unveiled this morning. The event is being billed as a new format for the global game of chess, based around rapid play. It will take place in Barcelona on 19-20 January 2027.
“Chess is a game of clear thinking, analysis, patience and resilience,” said Leonid Pertsovskiy, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of BETBY.
BETBY aspires to be King of Chess
As mentioned above, BETBY has been building strong links with the chess scene over the past few years. The firm has told SBC News on multiple occasions that it sees chess as a natural fit for betting.
“The world has never been more engaged with chess,” said Kirill Nekrasov, Head of Sportsbook Product at BETBY, speaking with SBC News in December last year.
Nekrasov noted that Chess.com alone has over 200 million members and more than 20 million games are played. Company leadership has also been paying close attention to the popularity of chess streamers such as Levy Rozman (known online as GothamChess).
Sponsorship of the MOVE Cup seems like a natural culmination of BETBY’s focus on chess.
Back in January, the company put together a chess event at the ICE trade show in Barcelona, featuring the aforementioned Carlsen and Rozman alongside renowned player Hikaru Nakamura.
BETBY itself has stated that its sponsorship of the MOVE Cup “builds on its growing connection with the global chess community”.
“After the successful chess event during ICE Barcelona 2026, we wanted to bring the world’s best players back to this city for something bigger and more ambitious,” Pertsovskiy added.
“The MOVE Cup is that step.”
Once again, the firm is using the ICE trade show to promote its chess activity. The company is holding a charity activation on 13 January at its stand on the show floor, bringing together players, donors and partners.
Further details about the MOVE Cup are expected in the coming months. What we know so far is the date and that Carlsen is the first confirmed player, with seven more due to be announced.
The tournament will also feature a €300,000 prize fund, while a further €300,000 will be donated to the MOVE Foundation – a non-profit supporting chess development, talent development, and research into chess and mental health – to mark the occasion.
“The ambition of the MOVE Cup is to become a regular event on the global chess calendar, and we at BETBY are proud to support that,” said Pertsovskiy.
