Everything you wanted to know about Chess.com ...

Hi, if there's anybody who could give me truthful information about these matters, I'd greatly appreciate it.

It's not really important, but I wanna step into a closer relationship with this website and as in any healthy relationship, as time passes by you learn more details about your partner. I registered here approximately 2 months ago and I love this site! And because I care about it, I opened up this thread. If anyone has some more questions, simply post them here.

Here are my questions:

1. Since when does Chess.com exist? Did it always exist under this domain or has it changed its name in the past?

2. Who is actually the super admin of Chess.com? Who owns this place?

3. Is it true, that every titled player receives a free Premium Membership for life, once he proves to the staff that he or she is one?

4. Has there always been a Live Chess Option or was that a later introduction?

5. When did the one-millionth member register?

A big thankyou to everyone who can give me some answers here!  

1. 1908, used to be Postal.Chess.Stamp

2. SpiderMan

3. There is a boxing match every year between the players. The winners get the cool yellow background for their posts. They just happen to be titled players.

4. There has always been that option at local clubs.

5. Nine minutes after the 999,999th.

Your Welcome!

2007, erik, yes, no, who cares

O.K.

wow, that went quick! 

Btw Al's answers for 2 and 3 are also correct. 4 is a lie though.

Okay, another thing I've noticed: There's a fun trophy called 'Happy New Year 2012' and another one simply labeled as 'Happy New Year', but no 'Happy New Year 2013' can be found, let alone any other year number. 

This irritates me greatly.

I never noticed that :o

It's right here: http://www.chess.com/forum/view/community/happy-new-year-2013

Send a taco trophy. Everybody likes tacos.

I know, right? I was so shocked when I first saw it that the hot cocoa I was drinking splashed all over my keyboard, resulting in the loss of 10 of my Correspondence Games due to a computer error. I demand Ordnung!

Tacos = high calories

I'm sorry that happened. I imagine that you'll recover, however.

Actually, no. I just looked it up, they have about 100 calories.

240, actually.

But they are not the same! Albeit I must admit that tacos are delicious!

But doesn' it look tasty?

There must be a way to fix this problem! *cues admin from backstage*

really?  which type?  ONLY  240 calories???  mmm   I dont know about that

I'll try to answer the questions as I have done research on the site for studies.

1.  Site was founded in its current form in May 2007.  The current regime acquired the rights to the name "chess.com," which was previously sold chess equipment and kitsch.

2.  The site is owned and controlled by two men.  The more public and outgoing of the two is "Erik Allebest."  The co-owner, who is more of a quiet behind-the-scenes type is named "Jay Severson."  (Think of Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager's co-management of Studio 54 for an idea about their styles.)  A substantial minority of the site is owned by the Wikimedia Foundation, along with a shadowy investor named "Rudy."  Over the years the site also has bought out and merged with a few small internet chess sites.

3.  Yes

4.  No, Live chess was introduced later

5.  Good question, at this rate maybe the millionth "member" will register this year or next.

http://web.archive.org/web/20060804193830/http://chess.com/