Event

Anichess Lets the Game Pick Your Spells in Week 5

Anichess Week 5 hides your spells until half the board is gone-top five win 300 CHECK.

In this screenshot from anichess, two players named Barogs and Oxd52...9dbef face off on a digital chessboard while large text overlays the screen with the phrase "GAME CHOOSES YOUR SPELLS".
Nyx Databorne
By Nyx Databorne, News Host, Author, Analyst
Published on August 13, 2026 · 4 min read
$CHECK+0.65%

On August 12, 2026, Anichess announced a new tournament variant where players can’t pre-select spells they discover abilities mid-game once half the board is gone. Entry is free, and 300 $CHECK goes to the top five, according to the studio [1]. They also noted that $CHECK launched on Coinbase in April 2026, part of their push to bring crypto into chess [2]. This latest event supposedly builds on that momentum with a randomized gameplay twist, but it’s hard not to see it as a gimmick. No cap, the whole thing feels a bit sus.

In this screenshot from anichess, a chessboard displays pieces in mid-game on green and cream squares while the left panel lists special abilities like Queen Time for player GreenLemon.
In this screenshot from anichess, a chessboard displays pieces in mid-game on green and cream squares while the left panel lists special abilities like Queen Time for player GreenLemon.

Stylized Isometric Art

Let’s see what Anichess looks like. This is a stylized 3D game, with an isometric view that gives the board game a diorama-like feel. The chess pieces are the stars here. They alternate between dark, polished forms and variants that glow with purple and cyan energy. Each capture feels like a spell being cast. That magic theme carries into the animated cards and icons, which pop with lightning, violet smoke, and bright gold bursts against warm tan stone backgrounds. The mix of realistic character portraits with illustrated fantasy avatars throws the visual tone slightly off-balance. But the overall package of neon effects and a mythical tabletop setting lands as energetic and distinct.

Glowing pieces cast spells with each capture.

JRPG

In this screenshot from an Anichess match identified by ID 2850333, players annamaja and Magnus.C are shown via webcam feeds on either side of a digital chessboard where white has just moved their knight to d5.
In this screenshot from an Anichess match identified by ID 2850333, players annamaja and Magnus.C are shown via webcam feeds on either side of a digital chessboard where white has just moved their knight to d5.

Shot in the Dark Controversy

Let’s take a look at what the community is saying. Many players praise the art, but a lot of them think the spell Shot in the Dark ruins the game. It turns chess into a guessing game instead of strategy [3]. Others enjoy the creative chess variant and fresh spells, but the community is largely frustrated over that one overpowered move [4]. Some fans suggest removing Shot in the Dark entirely, while others offer nerfs like restricting it from the queen or adding movement penalties [5].

We also checked video comments. All comments appear to be real reactions. Players discuss game mechanics, balance issues, and personal opinions. We found no evidence of coordinated fake praise or spam [6].

In this screenshot from anichess, players GreenLemon and BigOlDoink face off on a glowing chessboard where purple pieces are positioned against silver ones during gameplay.
In this screenshot from anichess, players GreenLemon and BigOlDoink face off on a glowing chessboard where purple pieces are positioned against silver ones during gameplay.

Crypto Token Price Action

Price History

Checkmate · USD chart

Checkmate daily USD price over the year up to publication on 2026-08-13.
Checkmate price data
DatePrice (USD)
2025-11-13$0.01719159
2025-12-13$0.02086572
2026-01-13$0.09027792
2026-02-13$0.07537345
2026-03-13$0.05637695
2026-04-13$0.02684173
2026-05-13$0.04466829
2026-06-13$0.065416
2026-07-13$0.03152308
2026-08-13$0.01420479

Here’s how CHECK has been moving lately. It’s been absolutely tanking compared to other gaming tokens. The 90-day chart shows a brutal -68.2% drop while peers only lost -5.3%. Sure, it stopped falling for a bit after the announcement, but that’s nothing to get excited about.

CHECK vs. Gaming Index. Percent change per trailing window, as of publication on 2026-08-13.
CHECK vs. Gaming Index: data table
WindowCHECKGaming Index
6 months-80.69%-25.41%
3 months-68.21%-5.28%
1 month-49.91%-5.3%
1 day+0.58%+2.5%

Random Spell Deal

Enough number-crunching, here’s the story everyone’s supposedly buzzing about. Anichess wants you to believe that a random spell roulette is the next big thing. They call it “Season 9: The Circuit, Week 5” entry is free, top five get 300 $CHECK. But given how the token is crashing, this feels like a cheap trick to pump the numbers. The announcement on X was met with mixed reactions, to say the least.

Reactions are split. One person just commented “Shitcoin”, while someone else told the team “Scammers you deserve hell”. Yet another commenter demanded that Chevan Tin be fired over Checkmate. Meanwhile, chess fans watching the game’s spell-based matches had a different gripe: “Shot in the Dark” is still too strong. One commenter said it “forces you to play in a defensive manner”. Another simply begged the devs to “remove the Shot in the Dark spell”.

So Week 5 is a roulette wheel of magical chess, and honestly, it’s hard to trust that this is anything more than a desperate attempt to draw attention. But hey, watching players scramble with spells they didn’t choose might be entertaining, even if it’s not real strategy.

References

  1. ↑ “Original announcement on X” X
  2. ↑ “X post by @AnichessGame” (English) X Post
  3. ↑ “YouTube comment by @ferrisffalcis” (English) YouTube Comment
  4. ↑ “YouTube comment by @laislyra5512” (English) YouTube Comment
  5. ↑ “YouTube comment by @SuperZebezian” (English) YouTube Comment
  6. ↑ “What shill detection is and how we identify it” (English) What is Shill Detection
  7. ↑ “What wash trading is and how we detect it” (English) What is Wash-Trading

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