REG - World Chess PLC - Directorate Change and Search for Permanent Chair

World ChessAnnouncement

22/05/2026 07:00

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RNS Number : 3332F  World Chess PLC  22 May 2026

World Chess Plc

 ("World Chess" or the "Company")

Appointment of Interim Chair and Commencement of Search for Permanent Chair

World Chess (LSE: CHSS), a leading chess organisation that develops and
operates worldchess.com, the official online gaming platform of the
International Chess Federation (FIDE), announces that, further to the
Company's announcement of 12 February 2026, Jamison F. Firestone, currently
Senior Independent Director, has been appointed Interim Chair of the Board
with immediate effect.

Mr Firestone will serve as Interim Chair while the Board conducts a formal
search for a permanent Chair.

About Jamison F. Firestone

Mr Firestone is an internationally recognised attorney and a member of the New
York Bar, based in London. He was managing partner of Firestone Duncan a
combined legal and audit practice for sixteen years and is the founder of FD
Advisory, an international law practice, advising clients on sanctions and
cross-border matters.

Over a career spanning more than three decades, Mr Firestone has become a
globally respected figure in the fields of international law, corporate
governance and the rule of law. He has been a long-standing public advocate
for transparency and integrity in business, and his work has been cited and
featured in leading international publications, including Foreign Policy, The
Lawyer and the Financial Times. He has advised governments and parliamentary
bodies in multiple jurisdictions on matters of sanctions and accountability.

Mr Firestone has been a Senior Independent Director at World Chess Plc and
brings to the role of Interim Chair significant experience in international
corporate governance and the oversight of complex cross-border organisations.

Statement by Jamison F. Firestone, Interim Chair

"It is a privilege to step into this role and help The Board to identify the
right permanent Chair to lead the Company through its next phase of growth,
and I look forward to supporting the management team in the meantime. World
Chess operates at the intersection of sport, media and technology, in a sector
that demands the highest standards of governance."

Statement by Ilya Merenzon, CEO

"Jamison's appointment as Interim Chair provides the Board with continuity,
independence and considerable international standing at a time when the
Company is executing on an ambitious growth strategy. His global stage and
reputation is exactly the kind of leadership the Board values."

Chair Succession Process

The Company has commenced a process to appoint a permanent Chair. A further
announcement will be made in due course.

This announcement contains information which, prior to its disclosure, was
inside information as stipulated under Regulation 11 of the Market Abuse
(Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019/310 (as amended).

 

For more information, visit: www.worldchess.com (https://www.worldchess.com/)
or contact:

 

 World Chess

 Ilya Merenzon, CEO                         merenzon@worldchess.com

 AlbR Capital Limited - Financial Adviser  +44 (0) 20 7469 0930

 David Coffman / Dan Harris

 

About World Chess Plc

World Chess (LSE: CHSS) is a leading chess organisation that develops and
operates worldchess.com, a subscription platform with over one million users
and the official online platform of the International Chess Federation (FIDE).
The Company organized several World Chess Championships, including in New
York and London. It organises the Armageddon Series and produces The World
Chess Show, distributed across more than 50 international markets. More at
worldchess.com.

 

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