Lichess is a free and open source chess website run by just three full-time people and global volunteers is proving that community-powered technology can outplay commercial giants, while keeping the game accessible to all.
Lichess, a free and open source chess platform with no ads or registration, has quietly become one of the world’s leading gaming destinations. It operates entirely through donations, averaging just €5 per contributor, and the efforts of hundreds of volunteers, making chess accessible for millions worldwide, from beginners to World champions.
Despite its monumental scale, Lichess is run by only three full-time employees: founder Thibault Duplessis, director of operations Theo Wait, and mobile developer Vincent Velociter. “Lichess is now one of the 200 or 300 biggest websites in the world by traffic,” says Wait. “We have hundreds of millions of visits every month. We provide a completely free platform for anyone to play or learn chess.”
The pandemic tripled user numbers, helping the site reach 3.5 million rated games a day, and up to 7 million total daily games. It all began as Duplessis’ personal attempt to learn Scala, with early rule issues fixed rapidly through user feedback.
Top grandmasters including Vidit Gujrathi rely on the platform. “Now its mobile application is much smoother and it is through Lichess that I follow tournaments,” says Vidit. World No. 5 Anish Giri endorsed Vidit’s praise with a simple: “Absolutely.”
Keeping Lichess running costs USD 720,000 each year, covering servers, salaries, moderation, and prize fund tournaments. Wait insists: “We are not for sale. Nobody wants to see a monopoly.”
India is Lichess’ second-largest audience, with plans to support grassroots chess and education.
