Sunset+Vine inks three-year World Chess deal

Sports production and distribution company, Sunset+Vine, has partnered with World Chess to provide production, distribution, and media consultancy services in a three-year contract.

World Chess was founded in 2012 with a goal to build a global, intellectual sport brand by reinventing the chess experience for the modern consumer, particularly via television. Working with Sunset+Vine to help deliver on this goal, the initial contract period will run from August 2022 to August 2025, with the first key event in the World Chess calendar being the Armageddon Championship Series.

The Armageddon Championship Series is the first ever chess tournament developed as a high drama sports television production. The show, with its “Blitz” speed format, state of the art modern graphics and camera angles, “makes it an unmissable event for viewers.”

Each Championship Series features the world’s strongest players but also gives an opportunity for six amateurs to join the line-up through online regional cups. The championship also features a double-elimination format – if a player loses two matches, they are eliminated from the series

Biometrics – including competitors’ heartbeat, stress/sweat levels – as well as other factors, will all be part of the broadcast data – “giving spectators unprecedented and unique access to the players’ emotions live as they take part, as well as getting up-close and personal in a purpose-built arena.”

Sarsfield Brolly, Head of Media Partnerships at Sunset+Vine, commented: “We are delighted to have been chosen to partner with World Chess, and as was proven with the huge international success of the Queen’s Gambit, are thrilled to be part of this new venture in bringing Chess to the modern consumer.”

Ilya Merenzon, CEO of World Chess, said: “Bringing chess on television in an exciting and dramatic format completes the sport’s evaluation into a global phenomenon. World Chess is happy to be at the forefront of this evolution. We are so excited to be a part of this series, both as organizers and as huge chess fans.”