"We're perhaps seeing a deterioration of ChessCom services. Enshittification, if it's not so politely phrased" — Lichess COO Theophilus Wait

Theophilus Wait

Lichess Chief Operating Officer

“[Question: What are your thoughts about Chess.com?]

In what sense?

[Question: For example, when somebody says: ‘Chess.com’, which associations do you have in your mind?]

These days I view them very much just in the same way as Duolingo or some kind of online mobile game. I think historically, they were very passionate about chess and trying to provide tools to kind of grow chess and the knowledge of chess.

These days, I think, especially since they were purchased by General Atlantic and now the move as well with CVC, it feels much more like gamification is kind of the idea behind it.

And overall, we’re perhaps seeing a deterioration, in my opinion, of their services. You know, platform decay, if it’s politely phrasеd. Enshittification, if it’s not so politely phrased.

[Question: I’ve heard this term… What exactly has become worse in your opinion? And what’s the benchmark that you are comparing it with?]

The benchmark is an interesting one. I suppose the benchmark is ultimately what I as a chess enthusiast individually and consumer would feel is kind of acceptable. But then that’s also a little bit biased. Because I know behind the scenes on Lichess, I know the costs of doing things like Puzzles, of Stockfish Analysis, etc.

I think there’s definitely been a move recently in changing the kind of barriers. The paywalls, for example. Previously people were paying a certain amount for 5 or 10 puzzles or whatever. And these paywalls are shifting, and people are getting less, and things are being hidden from the UI that were previously there.

And a lot of these things are very, very cheap. So, it really strikes me as nickel-and-diming a little bit, and generally just trying to maybe continue extracting a lot of wealth or value from the chess community. And these days I’m not certain how much they kind of put into it, if that makes sense.

[Question: So, you believe that it used to be better because the paywalls were not as aggressive and prevalent as they are now?]

It’s an element of it. There was this thing like the Pro Chess League, which was kind of being supported. There are still of course major online events which are being done. But I think we’re seeing these events generally shrink and reduce quite a lot.

Pro Chess League no longer exists. I think the Bullet Championships or whatever — there were some qualifiers which have been reduced as well.

So overall, I have a bit of a hesitation, I suppose, these days in what I view the motivation as. And that’s kind of why I just see them as Duolingo these days.”