Five-time World Chess Champion and world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen joined leaders from Hong Kong's business, finance and innovation communities today at "Checkmate: The Future of Strategy", an exclusive Business Leaders Luncheon held ahead of the FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships 2026, which will take place in Hong Kong from 17 to 21 June 2026.

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Hosted at The Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel Hong Kong, the event brought together senior executives, entrepreneurs, investors and technology leaders to discuss strategy, decision-making and innovation in an increasingly complex and rapidly evolving world.

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A headline fireside conversation featured Magnus Carlsen and Yat Siu, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Animoca Brands, exploring the application of chess principles to business leadership, decision-making under uncertainty, technological innovation and the growing impact of artificial intelligence.

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Presented by Hong Kong China Chess Federation and Anichess, the next-generation chess and gaming ecosystem developed by Animoca Brands, the luncheon formed part of a series of activities surrounding the Championships, which are being hosted in Hong Kong for the first time.

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Speaking at the luncheon, Magnus Carlsen, Five-time World Chess Champion and world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen said:  "I’m delighted to be visiting Hong Kong for the first time. Hong Kong has long been a place where people, ideas and opportunities from around the world come together. In many ways, chess is similar, bringing together people from different backgrounds through a shared appreciation for strategy, competition and learning.”

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Yat Siu, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Animoca Brands, said: "We are very pleased to co-present Checkmate: the Future of Strategy in partnership with the Hong Kong China Chess Federation. Being headquartered in Hong Kong, Animoca Brands and Anichess are proud to support initiatives and events that combine global talent, emerging technology, and cultural relevance, reflecting the territory's growing role as a center for innovation and technology adoption."

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Geoffrey KAO, Honorary President, Hong Kong China Chess Federation, said:  "We are delighted to welcome Magnus Carlsen to Hong Kong for this special gathering ahead of the Championships. His presence highlights the growing appeal of chess beyond the board and its relevance to business, technology and innovation.

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Hosting the FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in Hong Kong reinforces the city's role as an international platform connecting talent from around the world. We hope the event will foster greater exchange between the chess, technology and business communities while contributing to Hong Kong's continued development as a global centre for innovation and finance."

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About Animoca Brands

Animoca Brands Corporation Limited (ACN: 122 921 813) is a global digital assets leader building and investing in impactful technologies and ecosystems to reimagine future economies through AI and the agentic web. It has received broad industry and market recognition including Fortune Crypto 40, Top 50 Blockchain Game Companies 2025, Financial Times’ High Growth Companies Asia-Pacific, and Deloitte Tech Fast. Animoca Brands is recognized for building digital asset platforms such as the Moca Network, Open Campus, Anichess, and The Sandbox, as well as institutional-grade platforms; providing digital asset services to help Web3 companies launch and grow; and investing in frontier Web3 technology, with a portfolio of over 600 companies and digital assets. For more information visit www.animocabrands.com or follow on X, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and TikTok.

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About the FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships 2026

The FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships 2026 will be held in Hong Kong from 17 to 21 June 2026, marking the first time the event is hosted in the city. The fourth edition of the tournament, following previous events in Düsseldorf, Astana and London, will bring together 48 teams and more than 300 players from around the world competing for a total prize fund of €500,000. The Championships feature a unique mixed-team format, with elite grandmasters and recreational players competing side by side.

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Download link for photos: https://shorturl.at/b1xNN

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