There is no doubt that the biggest chess news of the year so far is this:
Play Magnus Group Secures Leading Library of Chess Content with the Acquisition of New In Chess
This is very big news indeed and here are further details.
Play Magnus Group expands its industry-leading library of chess content with the acquisition of Dutch chess publisher, Interchess BV, which operates the New In Chess brand.
New In Chess has built a world-class library of chess content comprising books, ebooks, digital subscriptions, and magazines. New In Chess has published over 200 titles, including best-sellers such as 100 Endgames You Must Know and Game Changer. The company also publishes the iconic New In Chess magazine and Yearbook which are highly regarded by chess enthusiasts around the world.
Expansive Library
New In Chess has been a long time partner of Play Magnus Group’s leading e-learning platform for chess, Chessable, and one of the first and biggest publishers to see the value of bringing their content to the Chessable platform. With this acquisition, Play Magnus Group secures the long-term rights to digitize New In Chess’ expansive library built over the past decades.
Andreas Thome, CEO of Play Magnus Group said, ‘New In Chess has published some of the most celebrated works in chess which has resulted in them being one of the top publishers on the Chessable platform. To date, New In Chess has published more titles than any individual publisher or content creator. By becoming part of the same company, we see even more opportunities in digitizing titles and continuing to bring high quality content to our users.’
Allard Hoogland, President and Owner of New In Chess said, ‘We are proud of the company we have built and believe that becoming part of Play Magnus Group will mean that our content and titles will reach more chess fans and learners around the world as Chessable continues to grow.
The chess industry is undergoing significant development and it has been important for us to find the right partners moving forward. Our readers in 116 countries will appreciate that our New In Chess magazine will continue to retain full editorial freedom. We are excited to enter the next chapter of our journey with Play Magnus Group.’
Magnus Carlsen – New in Chess Subscriber
Magnus Carlsen, World Chess Champion and subscriber of New In Chess for over 20 years said, ‘Bringing New In Chess into the Group is a special moment for me as I have always looked forward to reviewing the game notes of my fellow grandmasters and studying the historical gems published in New In Chess magazines. I have known the team since early on in my career and am glad that Play Magnus Group will continue the New In Chess legacy and inspire young players of the game for years to come.’
Play Magnus Group is acquiring 100% of the shares in Interchess BV for a cash consideration. As part of the transaction, Play Magnus Group will acquire Interchess BV’s holdings of 137,900 shares in Play Magnus Group originating from their early investment in Chessable Limited. New In Chess generated approximately EUR 2 million in revenue and was cash flow positive in 2020.
About Play Magnus Group
Play Magnus Group is a global leader in the chess industry focused on providing premier digital experiences for millions of chess players and students. The company offers e-learning and entertainment services via its market leading brands: chess24, Chessable, iChess, CoChess, the Play Magnus App Suite, and the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour. The Group’s mission is to grow chess to make the world a smarter place by encouraging more people to play, watch, study, and earn a living from chess.
Additional Thoughts
We have some additional thoughts from Allard Hoogland, who is keen to reassure New In Chess readers that sweeping changes in editorial policy are not on the cards.
‘I am proud of the company we have built and I believe that becoming part of Play Magnus Group will help our magazine, books and Yearbook to reach more chess players around the world. The chess boom caused by the Netflix hit-series The Queen’s Gambit, has brought us record-breaking book sales in the past months. Our future within Play Magnus Group looks bright.
There is, by the way, no reason to worry that we will change our ways. New In Chess magazine will continue to enjoy full editorial independence, we will continue to publish great chess books, and the Yearbook will continue to cover opening news for advanced players, four times a year.’
Chessable and New In Chess: The Courses
Numerous New In Chess books have already been made into Chessable courses and the full list can be found here.
The titles include David Smerdon’s The Complete Chess Swindler, which was the English Chess Federation’s Book of the Year for 2020.
