New partnership to combat cheating in online chess

The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Australian Artificial Intelligence Institute and VADR Media have announced a new research and development partnership aimed at combating cheating in online chess.

Chess boasts a staggering 700 million player base, with 420 million engaging in monthly online play. However, the rise of online chess, aided by AI technology, has also led to an increase in cheating incidents, compromising competition integrity.

VADR Media recently acquired Szuperchess, a groundbreaking cheating prevention system, for Checkmate.live, its next-gen broadcast and tournament platform for speed chess. John McRae, Managing Director of VADR Media, emphasised their commitment to fair play.

“We are deeply passionate about fair play and have taken proactive measures, implementing integrity protocols with trusted partners and investing in R&D,” said Mr McRae. 

“Our newly formed alliance with the UTS Australian Artificial Intelligence Institute, along with collaborations with key governing bodies in chess and esports, reflect our dedication to enhancing the community experience and accelerating speed chess as an esport,” he said. 

The UTS Australian Artificial Intelligence Institute (AAII), a world leader in artificial intelligence research, aims to develop advanced algorithms and theoretical foundations for AI. 

Under the leadership of Associate Professor Nabin Sharma, Professor Ling Chen, and Associate Professor Guodong Long, the UTS project team brings together world-class researchers with expertise in Computer Vision, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, and Multi-model expertise.

Associate Professor Sharma, a prominent figure in the chess community for three decades, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership.

“The UTS AAII team is thrilled about this collaboration. Chess and Artificial Intelligence go hand in hand. While chess has historically served as a testbed for AI advancements, it has also played a significant role in driving progress in various areas, from search algorithms to advanced machine learning techniques. What sets this project apart is its specialised multi-model AI approach."

His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahayan, President of The Asian Chess Federation and a member of Abu Dhabi's ruling family, expressed his support for the collaboration.

“This is an exciting chapter in the journey of chess. The Asian Chess Federation has always supported innovation with a mission to ensure this global cultural phenomenon has the widest possible access. 

"The online world has enabled incredible reach with the advent of internet coverage and developments in mobile technology; billions have the opportunity to play this glorious game. 

"Online integrity is a considerable challenge, and our partners, Checkmate, have invested considerable resources in AI to address this matter. This latest partnership will enable the appropriate safeguards for competitive chess at every level.” 

The UTS project team will have access to extensive computing resources provided by Tencent Cloud’s TI Platform and will receive support from Tencent's AI and Anti-cheat experts. This strategic collaboration builds upon Checkmate's existing partnership with Tencent Cloud, the cloud business of global gaming and technology company Tencent. 

The recognition of online speed chess as an esport is rapidly growing, with its inclusion in the Olympic Virtual Series organised by the International Olympic Committee in June. Furthermore, chess and esports were both featured as medal events at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games.

Checkmate, a member of the Esports Integrity Commission, is well positioned to be a leader in the space having secured an exclusive partnership with the Asian Chess Federation and Arab Esports Federation, designating Checkmate as their exclusive tournament platform, data, and broadcast partner. These partnerships encompass 73 national chess and esports federations, effectively covering a significant portion of the global chess and esports community.