Sportsbook supplier BETBY will serve as the powering sponsor of the MOVE Cup, a newly launched rapid chess tournament that will bring eight of the world’s top grandmasters to Barcelona on January 19 and 20, 2027.
The tournament was officially unveiled at a press conference in Barcelona. According to the announcement, the MOVE Cup seeks to become a recurring event on the international chess calendar, pairing elite competition with a charitable purpose.
Prize pool matched by charitable contribution
The tournament will offer a €300,000 ($336,000) prize fund, which will be matched by an equal €300,000 contribution to the MOVE Foundation.
The foundation supports chess development and young talent, in addition to research on chess and mental health.
Magnus Carlsen, BETBY’s global brand ambassador and frequently regarded as the world’s best chess player, is the first confirmed participant. The other seven grandmasters will be announced one at a time over the coming weeks.
From exhibition stand to tournament hall
The sponsorship continues BETBY’s involvement with the global chess community. Carlsen first joined the supplier at ICE Barcelona in 2025 and returned for a second consecutive year in 2026. That year, BETBY brought Carlsen together with Hikaru Nakamura and Levy Rozman for what the company called one of its most ambitious brand activations to date.
BETBY described the MOVE Cup as the next step in that journey. The event program will open on January 18 with a charity activation at the BETBY stand (5K20) during ICE Barcelona. Leading players, donors and partners will take part in the session, which will use a special hand-and-brain format.
Leonid Pertsovskiy, CEO and co-founder of BETBY, said: “Chess is a game of clear thinking, analysis, patience and resilience. After the successful chess event during ICE Barcelona 2026, we wanted to bring the world’s best players back to this city for something bigger and more ambitious.
“The MOVE Cup is that step. The ambition of the MOVE Cup is to become a regular event on the global chess calendar, and we at BETBY are proud to support that.”