Hong Kong used championship week to connect chess with business strategy, AI and technology, as Magnus Carlsen joined local leaders before a major FIDE event.
Good To Know
Before the first games, the chess conversation moved into the boardroom. Senior executives, entrepreneurs, investors and technology leaders gathered at The Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel Hong Kong for a closed business luncheon built around strategy and decision-making.
The session framed chess as more than competition. Speakers connected the game to leadership under pressure, AI, innovation and choices made with incomplete information. That gave the event a wider business focus before Hong Kong hosts the FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships for the first time.
Magnus Carlsen and Yat Siu led the main fireside conversation. Carlsen brought the view of a five-time World Chess Champion and world No. 1, while Siu added the technology and digital ownership angle as Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Animoca Brands.
Their discussion covered chess principles in business leadership, decision-making under uncertainty, technological change and the growing effect of artificial intelligence on strategy.
Carlsen used the luncheon to connect Hong Kong international role with chess global appeal.
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.”
The event also gave Animoca Brands and Anichess a place in the championship program. Anichess, developed by Animoca Brands, brings chess into a next-generation gaming environment, which fits the luncheon focus on technology and cultural relevance.
Yat Siu 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.”
The FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships 2026 run from June 17 to 21 in Hong Kong. The surrounding program includes activities designed to bring chess closer to business, finance and technology circles.
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.
“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.”