Eric Albaest, co-founder and CEO of Chess.com, joins the podcast to discuss how he's revolutionized the world of online chess. With 5-10 million daily players and nearly $100 million in annual revenue, Chess.com has become the go-to platform for chess enthusiasts worldwide.

Eric shares his journey from e-commerce to building a chess empire, starting with Schoolhouse Chess and Wholesale Chess before launching Chess.com. He reveals how the company has weathered surges and plateaus in popularity, including the massive boost from Netflix's "The Queen's Gambit."

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How Chess.com changed the definition of who can be a chess player, vastly expanding the market
• The importance of balancing community, content, and product in building a successful gaming platform
• Why streaming and content creation have been crucial to Chess.com's growth strategy
• How the company navigates the challenges of running a complex gaming ecosystem

Check out Erik's Resources:
https://www.chess.com/
https://x.com/chesscom
https://www.tiktok.com/@chess
https://www.chesscomshop.com/
https://www.instagram.com/wwwchesscom/
https://www.youtube.com/user/wwwChesscom

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