ChessOnChain One year distribution calendar for polkadot as a Product 

Discussion Summary 

This discussion details the plan for routine  digital chess gaming events on polkadot with chessonchain as a product for one year, Chess is a timeless game with an audience of millions of gamers world wide, with the industry and fame growing steady, chessonchain is building distribution channels to create the biggest chess community onchain.

Chess will never go away, and people will not ever stop playing the game (ChessOnchain), this shows a good distribution and investment opportunity polkadot should capitalize and invest on, it only grows as we innovate and does not decrease, this also helps onboard users to web3 and creates onchain transactions, we’ve seen adoption on polkadot of over 5k gamers and 1k+ checkmate NFTson unique network through some marketing campaigns in the past, but that is not enough to maintain community and culture, routine distribution is key, it works better than marketing campaigns with big incentives that just attract gamers leeching for prices, with a distribution plan we can get detailed number of events, routine gaming culture and competitions to create a brand and community for polkadot and chessonchain .

This proposal requests funding to support a tech upgrade and a new ChessOnChain product release focused on launching subscription-based features, enabling sustainable revenue models, and executing a 12-month Polkadot-branded chess distribution calendar through streaming, tournaments competitions and daily bounties.

If approved, ChessOnChain commits to advertising the platform as “Sponsored by Polkadot OpenGov” for one full year, irrespective of whatever chain a user uses, the add will pop up, positioning Polkadot as the leading blockchain ecosystem for on-chain chess and real-time gaming.

Background & Context

Currently ChessOnChain is a multichain chess gaming network, as we evolve, we plan to launch our L1 with Substrate technology, acting as the core data coordination, and settlement layer. Players can authenticate, play chess, participate in tournaments, earn rewards, and mint verifiable game data (Checkmate NFTs), without needing deep blockchain knowledge.

Through previous campaigns, ChessOnChain has validated:

• Strong user engagement via tournaments and bounties
• High retention when incentives are routine and recurring
• Clear demand for premium chess features

The project is now transitioning from activation-only growth to revenue-enabled sustainability, aligned with OpenGov’s long-term ecosystem goals.

Scope of Work

1. Tech upgrade and First Subscription-Based Release

Funding will support a game upgrade and the launch of tiered subscription packages, forming the foundation of ChessOnChain’s long-term revenue model.

The current version play.chessonchain.io will be available to unsubscribed users while allowing unrestricted game play while we release our first subscription tier package with lots of features and incentive generating opportunities .

Planned subscription features include:

• Advanced rating systems (blitz, rapid, classical, custom formats)
• Casino (a lobby where smart contract escrows allow for financial wagers, 1v1 stake, tournament staking with split options like winner takes all, split with top3, top4)
• Bughouse 4 player chess for team matches or free for all 
• Editable chess themes and colours for board and chess pieces (at least 100)
• Personal bot for In-depth game analytics and performance statistics
• Stockfish-powered analysis and best-move detection
• Anti-cheat monitoring with bot findings 
• Unlimited practice bots and training tools
• Daily puzzles
• Priority or exclusive access to tournaments and bounties

This approach mirrors how leading chess platforms monetize today, while introducing on-chain transparency and ownership.

2. Revenue Models & Sustainability Strategy

ChessOnChain is actively implementing diversified revenue streams, reducing long-term dependency on grants and ensuring platform longevity.

a) Subscriptions (Primary Revenue Layer)

Recurring monthly or annual subscriptions for premium features, analytics, and
            competitive and financial access.

b) Wagered Matches with Escrow (Opt-In)

ChessOnChain is developing skill-based wager matches using escrow smart contracts:

• Players agree on a stake before a match
• Funds are locked in escrow
• Automatic settlement based on verified game results
• Optional platform fee for escrow facilitation
• Anti-cheat checks to protect fairness

This model mirrors paid competitive chess matches and prize-based play already common in online chess ecosystems.

c) Tournament Entry Fees

• Paid-entry tournaments for pooled prize distributions
• Subscription-only competitive events
• Sponsored tournaments with branded prize pools
  A small platform fee supports sustainability while most rewards return to players.

d) NFT-Based Game Data & Collectibles

• Checkmate NFTs (final board state + game metadata)
• Tournament achievement NFTs
• Limited-edition skins and chess sets

These function as digital trophies and memorabilia, similar to collectibles sold by traditional chess platforms.

e) Sponsored & Branded Events

• Sponsored tournaments and leagues
• Branded daily bounties
• Partner-led competitions

f) Hosting & Community Licenses (Future)

• Private leagues for schools, clubs, DAOs
• Tournament hosting packages
• Custom rulesets and branded environments

3. One-Year Polkadot Distribution Plan

ChessOnChain will execute a 12-month Polkadot-focused distribution calendar.

a) Streaming & Content (Weekly / Ongoing)

• Daily GM chess frequent streams featuring Polkadot branding (1 hour )
• Weekly CHESS JAM tournaments every wednesday through random selection or merit (total of 52 tournaments with a prize pool ) Players must be a subscribed user .
• Weekly highlight clips, recaps, and leaderboards
• Monthly flagship competitions (12 events with small prizes)
• Cross-community and ecosystem collaborations
• All events promoted as powered by Polkadot
• Small, recurring bounties for daily participation
• Proven to onboard more users than single large events
• Encourages habit formation and repeat engagement
• Drives frequent wallet interactions and ecosystem activity

Commitment to Polkadot Promotion

If funded, ChessOnChain commits to:

• Display “Sponsored by Polkadot OpenGov” across:
  • The ChessOnChain platform
  • Tournaments and streams
  • Social media campaigns and content
• Actively promote Polkadot as the home infrastructure for ChessOnChain
• Publicly acknowledge OpenGov support for 12 consecutive months

This ensures long-term visibility rather than short-lived marketing exposure.

Benefits to Polkadot

• User Onboarding: Chess players interact with Polkadot without needing prior Web3 experience
• High-Frequency Activity: Daily bounties and matches generate consistent transactions
• Ecosystem Narrative: Positions Polkadot as the blockchain for real-time, skill-based gaming
• Revenue-Aligned Project: ChessOnChain moves toward self-sustainability
• Long-Term Marketing: One year of continuous Polkadot exposure through chess content

Conclusion

This referendum funds more than a product update. It enables:

• A subscription-based chess platform
• Sustainable, diversified revenue models
• A year-long Polkadot-branded growth strategy
• A real consumer gaming application built on Substrate

By approving this proposal, OpenGov supports a project transitioning from successful campaigns into a durable, revenue-generating platform that continuously markets Polkadot to a global chess audience.