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Esports World Cup Welcomes Chess to 2025 Games Lineup with a $1.5 Million Prize Pool

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One of History’s Most Enduring and Popular Games Joins the World’s Largest Gaming and Esports Festival to Bring Competitive Chess to New Audiences

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia and NEW YORK, Dec. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Today, the Esports World Cup Foundation (“EWCF”), and Chess.com announced a multi-year partnership that will bring competitive online chess to the 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC), the world’s largest esports and gaming festival, set to return to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, next summer. Chess is one of the most popular games on the planet, with more than 600 million players, and Chess.com is the leading website for playing, learning, and enjoying chess with nearly 200 million members. Additionally, Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen will join Chess at the Esports World Cup as a Global Ambassador.

“Bringing Chess, a game that has been played for 1,500 years, to the Esports World Cup is a truly exciting moment.”

As part of the partnership, the Champions Chess Tour (CCT), a fast Chess.com tournament circuit, will become the primary path for the world’s best Chess players to qualify for the EWC championship event. In 2025, there will be two online Tour events, in February and May, boasting a combined $300k prize pool, offering players opportunities to compete on the world’s biggest esports stage.

“Bringing Chess, a game that has been played for 1,500 years, to the Esports World Cup is a truly exciting moment,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation. “It’s the perfect example of how games evolve: from boards to screens, the core competition stays the same. Chess’ rich history, global appeal, and thriving competitive scene make it a perfect fit for our mission to unite the world’s most popular games and their passionate communities under one competitive umbrella. Partnering with the leading online platform for the game, Chess.com, and appointing the legendary Magnus Carlsen, a true GOAT of the sport, as the game’s ambassador, allows us to not only showcase Chess on a massive stage but also to drive innovation and growth within its already vibrant ecosystem. We’re eager to see how our Clubs embrace this new challenge.”

Magnus Carlsen, widely regarded as one of the greatest Chess players in history, joins the Esports World Cup as an ambassador, bringing his unparalleled expertise to the partnership. With his legendary career and ability to captivate audiences, Magnus has elevated Chess from a traditional board game to a modern global online phenomenon, setting it on a path into the esports ecosystem.

As an ambassador, Magnus will help connect Chess with the broader esports community by showcasing the mental strategy and competitive spirit that Chess shares with other top-tier esports titles. Working with the Esports World Cup Foundation, his involvement will help inspire a new generation of players and fans, emphasizing the intellectual depth and excitement of Chess on a global stage.

“I’m thrilled to see Chess join some of the biggest games in the world at the Esports World Cup,” said Magnus Carlsen, Grandmaster. “This partnership is an incredible opportunity to grow the game, by introducing Chess to new audiences and inspiring the next generation of players. Being part of the esports family is an amazing opportunity for Chess to broaden its reach to a massive group of esports fans.”

The top 12 players from the CCT will be invited to the EWC Chess tournament, which will take place between July 31 and August 3, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ), open to both amateur and professional players, will be held in Riyadh and will determine four remaining spots to round out the field of competitors. Players will compete for a share of the $1.5 million prize pool, and valuable Esports World Cup Club Championship points. 

The format of the competition has been designed to bring competitive Chess to a new esports audience. Matches will be played in the rapid 10+0 Chess format, giving games a quick pace while still showcasing the strategic brilliance of the players. Should a match be tied after regulation, there will be a single Armageddon game as a tiebreaker.

Chess joins the 2025 lineup of the world’s most popular gaming titles at the Esports World Cup, bringing together the top clubs, players, and fans under one banner for the largest celebration of gaming as a global sport. The tournament’s unique cross-game competition format across over 20 titles, rewarding Clubs for their performance in each, connects audiences to their favorite games and promotes the growth and innovation of the broader esports and gaming ecosystem.

With origins tracing back over 1,500 years to ancient India, Chess has evolved through centuries into a global intellectual pursuit and one of the world’s most popular forms of entertainment.  Chess’ transition to online platforms began in the late 1990s, but its popularity exploded in the 2010s with platforms like Chess.com offering accessible gameplay, lessons, puzzles, and global competitions. This shift was further accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the increasing popularity of streaming platforms and influencers, alongside hit cultural phenomena like The Queen’s Gambit, have cemented Chess as a dynamic and widely celebrated digital sport.

The Champions Chess Tour is a premier online Chess competition bringing the world’s top players together in a series of rapid-format tournaments. Launched in 2020, the Tour revolutionized the Chess landscape by offering a fully digital, viewer-friendly experience, complete with live commentary and interactive features. The 2024 Tour will conclude in Oslo, Norway this week as eight finalists battle for the final $500K out of a total season prize pool of $1.7 million.

About The Esports World Cup

The Esports World Cup (EWC) is a premier annual sporting event and global celebration of competitive excellence and esports fandom. The competition features a unique cross-game format that pits the world’s top esports clubs against one another for the largest prize pool in esports history. The inaugural EWC in 2024 featured 1,500 elite athletes and 200 clubs from 100 countries. They competed in 22 tournaments across 21 games for a $60 million prize pool. The eight-week competition and festival drew 500 million views online and saw 2.6 million people attend. Returning to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in the summer of 2025, the EWC will bring gaming and esports communities together again to crown the next Esports World Cup Club Champion.
esportsworldcup.com/en 

About Chess.com

Founded in 2007, Chess.com is the world’s largest chess website, with a community of nearly 200 million members worldwide and more than 6 million games played daily. Chess is one of the most popular games globally and with that, Chess.com is committed to growing chess as a positive influence in the world, where every person can enjoy the game, connect with others and be accepted in the community. Chess.com was recognized by Fast Company’s list of Most Innovative Companies in 2024, as well as included on TIME’s 100 Most Influential Companies in 2023.

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SOURCE Esports World Cup Foundation

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Nexteer’s Global First Steer-by-Wire Goes into Production

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BEIJING, April 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Nexteer Automotive helped a leading Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer bring the world’s first production passenger vehicle with a full drive‑by‑wire chassis to market. The vehicle features Nexteer’s steer‑by‑wire (SbW) system as a key enabler.

The SbW featured in this vehicle marks Nexteer’s first SbW system in mass production, representing a major step forward for the technology — moving from development and validation to full-scale production. Certified in late 2025, this system achieved the world’s first ASIL D functional safety approval from DAkkS (German Accreditation Body) through close collaboration with the OEM. This certification reflects global top-tier performance in fault diagnosis, redundancy, and safety monitoring. Key features include:

Multi-layered redundancy design: Dual controllers, dual power supplies, multiple communication links, and dual actuation paths — achieving redundancy at system, hardware, and software levels. This ensures that in the event of a single fault, the backup path takes over within milliseconds with no loss of steering function.Full‑scenario functional safety mechanism: Multi‑level monitoring and fault handling strategies covering sensors, controllers, actuators, and communication links.Variable steering ratio: Automatically adjusts steering angle and effort based on vehicle speed and driving mode, balancing agility and comfort.Intuitive road‑feel simulation technology: Software‑defined steering feedback delivers a more responsive and precise driving experience, adaptable to a wide range of driving scenarios.Open interface for autonomous driving: As a key actuation layer for ADAS and autonomous driving systems, it provides real‑time, precise control capabilities, supporting the development of intelligent transportation systems.

Steer-by-Wire: Electronic Signals Replace Mechanical Links, Flexible Configurations for Diverse Needs

By decoupling the mechanical link between the hand wheel and the road wheels, steer-by-wire replaces conventional mechanical connections with electronic signals and actuators — and is quickly becoming a foundational technology for next-generation intelligent chassis and autonomous driving platforms. As a motion control technology company with 120 years of engineering heritage, Nexteer offers a flexible, off-the-shelf portfolio of steering feel simulators and road wheel actuators. This modular approach allows us to meet the diverse needs of different vehicle models and driving scenarios efficiently and cost-effectively.

From Steering to Braking: Expanding Full-Stack Motion Control Capabilities

Building on its deep expertise in steering systems, Nexteer has expanded into braking with its Brake-by-Wire solution, the Electro-Mechanical Brake (EMB). EMB has completed full development and rigorous validation and is ready for mass production. Together with SbW, Brake-by-Wire (EMB), Rear-Wheel Steering, and the MotionIQ™ Software Suite make up Nexteer’s broader Motion-by-Wire™ portfolio.

With Nexteer, OEMs get more than steer-by-wire and brake-by-wire components: they get a complete, proven, production-ready and cost-effective drive-by-wire chassis motion control solution that’s shaping the future of the software-defined chassis and enabling faster development, lower costs and safter, smarter and more exciting driving experiences.

During Auto China 2026, we cordially invite you to visit Nexteer at Booth W1B03, Hall W1, China International Exhibition Center (Shunyi) in Beijing, to experience firsthand the breakthrough innovations of steer-by-wire and Motion-by-Wire™ technologies.

ABOUT NEXTEER AUTOMOTIVE

Nexteer Automotive (HK 1316) is a global leading motion control technology company accelerating mobility to be safe, green and exciting. Our innovative portfolio supports Motion-by-Wire™ chassis control, including electric and hydraulic power steering systems, steer-by-wire and rear-wheel steering systems, steering columns and intermediate shafts, driveline systems, software solutions and brake-by-wire. Celebrating 120 years of automotive innovation in 2026, Nexteer builds on a strong legacy of engineering excellence while continuing to shape the future of mobility. The company solves motion control challenges across all megatrends – including electrification, software/connectivity, ADAS/automated driving and shared mobility – for global and domestic OEMs around the world including BMW, Ford, GM, RNM, Stellantis, Toyota and VW, as well as automakers in India and China including BYD, Xiaomi, ChangAn, Li Auto, Chery, Great Wall, Geely, Xpeng and others. www.nexteer.com  

Links to Nexteer Media Center

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2368187/5937537/nexteer_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/nexteers-global-first-steer-by-wire-goes-into-production-302753641.html

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World IP Day 2026: PitchMark launches Ideas.Exchange to help creators safeguard and license ideas in the age of AI

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SINGAPORE, April 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — To mark World IP Day 2026, PitchMark® today launched Ideas.Exchange, a first‑of‑its‑kind platform designed to help creators assert intellectual property rights, license ideas, and formalise creative conversations in an increasingly AI‑driven economy.

Unveiled at Safeguard Your IP in the Age of AI, a media briefing hosted by CNBC’s Sri Jegarajah, the platform responds to growing concern that ideas are routinely used, reused or absorbed without attribution, consent or compensation—often with limited legal or commercial recourse.

“AI has amplified both the reach and the risk for creators,” said Mark Laudi, Managing Partner of PitchMark LLP. “Ideas.Exchange gives creators a way to protect themselves while still participating confidently in the market for ideas.”

At its core, the platform focuses on three interventions for creators:

Asserting IP rights by establishing proof of authorship and precedenceLicensing ideas without giving them away for freeFormalising conversations so pitches and evaluations are governed rather than informal

Ideas.Exchange is powered by three proprietary resources developed by PitchMark. These include a blockchain‑driven clearing house where ideas and creative works can be listed and licensed; smart contracts that automate usage terms and reduce disputes; and an IP Governance Certification Program designed to signal responsible handling of ideas, particularly in enterprise and AI contexts.

The result, PitchMark says, is three concrete outcomes: deterrence of idea theft, new ways to monetise ideas through structured licensing and price discovery, and a more level playing field that allows creators to pitch to clients and platforms on equal terms.

The launch comes amid renewed scrutiny of how intellectual property is treated in the AI era. While idea theft is rarely reported, its impact is significant. Beyond visible financial losses, organisations and creators often absorb hidden costs through talent attrition, innovation suppression and abandoned market opportunities.

“Most idea theft occurs informally and never reaches the courts,” said Prof David Llewelyn, Professor Emeritus of Law at Singapore Management University. “Introducing governance, traceability and standards is a meaningful step toward addressing that gap.”

Spokespeople including Prof Llewelyn, technology lawyer Bryan Ghows, and Mark Laudi are available for interview.

About PitchMark

PitchMark® deters idea theft and enables creatives to get paid by providing a trusted way to share and license ideas with prospects and clients.

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/world-ip-day-2026-pitchmark-launches-ideasexchange-to-help-creators-safeguard-and-license-ideas-in-the-age-of-ai-302753571.html

SOURCE PitchMark

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SK hynix receives 2026 IEEE Corporate Innovation Award for Driving AI Computing Expansion with HBM

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SK hynix honored at the 2026 IEEE Awards for leading AI technology innovation with HBM Contributed to the global AI computing ecosystem via stable mass production across all HBM generationsCompany committed to becoming a premier leader in AI innovation through collaboration with global customers and partners

SEOUL, South Korea, April 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SK hynix Inc. (or “the company”, www.skhynix.com) announced today that it received the Corporate Innovation Award at the ‘2026 IEEE1 Honors Ceremony’ held in New York on the 24th (local time).

IEEE is the world’s largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. Established more than a century ago, the IEEE Awards Program recognizes individuals and teams whose innovations have advanced technology and improved the human condition.

The IEEE Corporation Innovation Award, part of the Recognitions category, has been presented since 1986 to companies that have significantly contributed to the advancement of industry and society through innovative technology. This marks the first time SK hynix has received this honor.

SK hynix attributed the honor to its contribution to the global AI computing ecosystem by ensuring the stable mass production of all High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) generations. Looking ahead, the company aims to solidify its position as a trusted partner in the global AI market by providing memory solutions that are critical to overcoming the performance limitations of AI platforms.

The recognition highlights SK hynix’s achievements in driving the expansion of AI computing through HBM innovation and application. Central to this success was the company’s ability to preemptively offer innovative HBM solutions and respond timely to customer demands in the global AI market.

Industry observers also credit this achievement to the strategic direction of SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, who has long emphasized securing long-term technological competitiveness. Under his leadership, the company has consistently expanded its AI infrastructure partnerships with global Big Tech firms in the United States.

Ahn Hyun, President and Chief Development Officer (CDO), attended the ceremony as the company representative to accept the award.

“It is an honor to receive this award on behalf of our employees, who have tirelessly challenged the limits of technology,” said Ahn. “By collaborating closely with our global customers and partners, we will stay ahead in creating the value the market demands and continue to be a premier company leading AI innovation.”

About SK hynix Inc.
SK hynix Inc., headquartered in Korea, is the world’s top-tier semiconductor supplier offering Dynamic Random Access Memory chips (“DRAM”) and flash memory chips (“NAND flash”) for a wide range of distinguished customers globally. The Company’s shares are traded on the Korea Exchange, and the Global Depository shares are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. Further information about SK hynix is available at www.skhynix.com, news.skhynix.com.

About IEEE
IEEE is the world’s largest technical professional organization and a public charity dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. Through its highly cited publications, conferences, technology standards, and professional and educational activities, IEEE is the trusted voice in a wide variety of areas ranging from aerospace systems, computers, and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric power, and consumer electronics. Learn more at https://www.ieee.org.

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SOURCE SK hynix Inc.

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