Freedom Holding Acquires Global Chess Platform ChessBase in €5 Mln Deal
International investment and technology firm Freedom Holding Corp has announced the acquisition of ChessBase, one of the world’s oldest and largest platforms dedicated to chess software, analytics and data.
The takeover aims to strengthen the company’s market position through the widespread implementation of artificial intelligence and its integration into the wider Freedom corporate ecosystem. The firm expects to invest approximately €5 mln into the project’s future development.
A new era for a historic brand
Timur Turlov, chief executive of Freedom Holding Corp, highlighted the significance of the deal for the global chess community.
«ChessBase is an incredibly strong brand with a rich history and is perhaps one of the most important projects for the global chess community,» Turlov stated.
«Together with the team that stood at its origins and manages it now, we will be able to make significant progress in modernising the service, enriching its functionality through the introduction of artificial intelligence and integrating it with our digital ecosystem in the SuperApp.»
He added that the partnership will not only solidify the platform’s standing among professional players but also unlock new opportunities by granting direct access to Freedom’s existing client base, which exceeds 11 mln people across more than 20 countries.
Job security and expansion in Hamburg
Despite the acquisition, the operational structure of the German-based software company will remain largely unchanged. Turlov confirmed that investment funds will be directed towards upgrading the platform and expanding its technological architecture.
Crucially, the ChessBase headquarters will remain in Hamburg and the core team will be kept entirely intact with no planned redundancies. Instead, the holding company intends to make substantial investments into business development and will hire new staff as the platform grows.
Rainer Woisin, managing director of ChessBase, welcomed the acquisition. «This is excellent news for the chess world,» he said.
«ChessBase, an important part of chess heritage, is entering a new, sustainable phase of its development. The emergence of an investor who genuinely loves chess is perhaps the best scenario imaginable. I am confident that new and exciting opportunities await the global chess community.»
Freedom’s deepening ties to the sport
The acquisition is the latest in a long line of chess-related investments by Turlov and his company. Freedom Holding currently invests over $15 mln annually to develop and popularise the game.
The firm regularly partners with FIDE projects and helps sponsor international tournaments including world rapid, blitz, corporate and school championships.
Turlov himself is deeply embedded in the sport’s administration. He has served as the head of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation since January 2023 and took on the leadership of the International School Chess Federation (ISCF) in September 2024.
Under his influence, Kazakhstan has rapidly strengthened its position as a premier international venue for major chess championships among schoolchildren, juniors and university students.
