Lichess

Lichess is free and open-source Internet chess server. The chess server is run by a non-profit organization, which is also called Lichess.[1] The Lichess chess server was created in 2010 by Thibault Duplessis, making it 15 years old.[2] The name comes from a combination of "live/light/libre" and "chess". It's called "live" because games are played and are able to be watched in real-time, 24/7. The term "light" is because Lichess keeps a simplistic user interface, and the term "libre" is French for "free", as in "free and open-source software (FOSS)".[3]

Players online have the option of playing anonymously. They also have the option to create an account to earn a rating. Lichess uses the Glicko-2 rating system.[4]

In April 2021, the United States Chess Federation reviewed how Lichess deals with cheating in online chess. After this review, it endorsed Lichess as a secure place to play chess for its members.[5]

Titled Arenas

Lichess runs tournaments called Titled Arenas, in which only players who have a title are able to play. As of February 2021, World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen has the most Titled Arena wins, with 15.[6]

References

  1. Poindexter, Owen. "8 Great Chess Apps for Beginners and Grand Masters". WIRED. Retrieved 2021-07-25.
  2. "2025 Lichess Anniversary: Standard 10+0 rated #D8R1zkLg". lichess.org. 2025-06-20. Retrieved 2025-06-19.
  3. "Frequently Asked Questions • lichess.org". lichess.org. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  4. "Frequently Asked Questions • lichess.org". lichess.org. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  5. "US Chess Endorses LiChess Fair Play Methodology". US Chess Federation. April 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-25.
  6. "Alireza wins a 13th Titled Arena". Lichess. Retrieved 2021-07-25.

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