why companies specializing in chess never IPO?????

In every industry there must be one company that goes public, or IPO. So far, no chess companies have IPO'd as of yet. Chess.com, chessbase, FIDE, none of them. Although chesscube came close once. What is it about chess that turns people away. If one day chess will IPO, maybe it will attract more newcombers.

So why they don't IPO?

An Initial Public Offering (IPO) is done when a private company decides to go public for the first time.  An IPO is generally carried when a company is in need of cash and acquires it by selling its share on the stock market, thus going public. 

Before we discuss  why chess companies are not opting for an IPO, let's discuss why the need for an IPO is felt by a company in the first place:

1) The biggest motivation is the large influx of money that a company gets through an IPO

2) Whenever a company goes public, it attracts a certain level of recognition in the market. This saves a lot on PR and other branding expenses.

3) A certain level of credibility gets associated with the company, which could prove beneficial for all its future endeavours.

4)IPO shares of start-ups have a higher chance of gaining value on the market over a short period of time as compared to company shares that have been in the market for a long time and reached a level of saturation in terms of growth.

All the chess companies that you have mentioned are already sorted on the above-mentioned parameters. These companies are already quite profitable in all their endeavours and find no need to sell the shares. Also, there is a possibility that once a company goes public, the current decision-makers no longer have a say in its activities and this is not always accepted by many business heads. In certain cases, these companies could rather prefer for an ICO (Initial Coin Offering) which could create liquidity for them, all the while staying private.

Intention to Float on the London Stock Exchange

Proposed placing to raise up to €8 million

World Chess Plc, a leading chess organisation seeking to promote the mass market appeal of chess globally through the commercial offering of chess related activities, is pleased to announce its intention to seek admission of its Ordinary Shares to the Official List (by way of Standard Listing under Chapter 14 of the Listing Rules) and to trading on the London Stock Exchange's Main Market for listed securities (together, the "Admission"), and a placing of new shares to raise up to €8m.

It is expected that the Admission will become effective and that dealings will commence in November 2022, under the ticker CHSS. Novum Securities Limited ("Novum") is acting as Financial Adviser to the Company and Retail investors will be able to register their interest in the IPO by applying through PrimaryBid prior to Admission.

World Chess overview

Established in 2017, World Chess Plc is the holding company of a group which aims to promote the mass market appeal of chess globally through the commercial offering of chess related activities. This includes the organisation of top-level tournaments, operation of the official online gaming platform of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and other sport, lifestyle and social activities, and merchandise related to chess.

Chess is a global mass participation sport with more than 600 million active players, with numbers increasing due to the growth of online platforms, however it is still much less commercialised than other sports. Market expansion remains in its early stages, and World Chess is well-positioned to take advantage of the sector's growth through online, in-person and hybrid chess events and activities, and by providing complementary product offerings to players, spectators, and partners. 

The Directors believe that Admission will enable access to capital on an ongoing basis to fund the Group's growth trajectory through investment in its online platform and marketing strategies, and will also improve the Group's public profile.

Highlights

●    World Chess aims to make chess more accessible and increase participation, updating the image of chess, supporting the recent surge in the popularity of the sport

●     Mission to support the commercial growth of chess and its wider enjoyment around the world through a complementary product and service offering, the World Chess Ecosystem

●     World Chess Ecosystem covers official online FIDE gaming platform, events and competitions, clubs, media, talent, sponsorship and merchandise. 

●     Partner of the International Chess Federation ("FIDE") since 2012, with an exclusive position to offer online ratings and titles, recognized by FIDE, to players. 

●     Operator of FIDE Online Arena, the official FIDE online gaming platform, allowing subscribing players of all levels to participate in ranked online matches, and organiser of top-level professional tournaments including the Grand Prix series

●    World Chess is leading the way for chess to catch up with other sports and compete for global attention through growing media, sponsorship and talent management activities

●    Commercial potential of chess historically overlooked by global media and business despite chess being a global, mass participation sport, typically over-represented in higher income and educational qualification demographic groups

●    Experienced and passionate management team with extensive experience working in the chess industry

Ilya Merenzon, Chief Executive Officer of World Chess, said: "I am pleased to be announcing our intention to float on the London market at a transformational time for chess and for our business. There continues to be an explosion of interest in chess, which has accelerated through recent years and even more during the pandemic. To keep pace with this growth we are scaling up our operations and expanding our range of services internationally.

"We believe chess is the only remaining mass participation sport not yet fully benefitting from the creativity and investment of the commercial sector. As the business world begins to recognise the opportunity to profitably offer chess fans more of what they want, there is an incredible opportunity to continue increasing interest in chess worldwide. Our goal is to build on the foundations of millennia of people playing chess for fun as well as for intellectual challenge, reinvent the game of chess so it fits more easily into modern lifestyles and, above all, ensure chess is accessible to more people.

"Our ecosystem business model supports fans through their lifelong chess experience. We help players, sponsors and partner organisations, and are committed to a sustainable approach to business. We have the advantage of being an established brand with almost a decade of experience hosting high-level events globally. Our online offering benefits from using a newly built technology platform to leverage the established World Chess brand.

"We are hugely passionate about chess and can't wait to take the next step in developing the sport that looks like a hybrid of e-sports with a Nobel prize awards ceremony."

Most small companies do not go public.  There are a variety of reasons for this.  Here are some of my ideas:

1.  The company's owner is not interested:

2.  The company is not profitable enough to attract investors:

3.  Going public is expensive and time consuming, and

4.  The company cannot meet the regulatory requirements to go public.

I'm sure other people can come up with more ideas.  Also, there are many reasons why companies do go public.  Expanding the company and making more money is probably the main reason.

• I reposted this because the first post above in black I couldn't edit and it was almost unreadable. It seems to me it could be an important development in the chess world.
•  
• Intention to Float on the London Stock Exchange
•  
• Proposed placing to raise up to €8 million
•  
• World Chess Plc, a leading chess organisation seeking to promote the mass market appeal of chess globally through the commercial offering of chess related activities, is pleased to announce its intention to seek admission of its Ordinary Shares to the Official List (by way of Standard Listing under Chapter 14 of the Listing Rules) and to trading on the London Stock Exchange's Main Market for listed securities (together, the "Admission"), and a placing of new shares to raise up to €8m.
•  
• It is expected that the Admission will become effective and that dealings will commence in November 2022, under the ticker CHSS. Novum Securities Limited ("Novum") is acting as Financial Adviser to the Company and Retail investors will be able to register their interest in the IPO by applying through PrimaryBid prior to Admission.
•  
• World Chess overview
•  
• Established in 2017, World Chess Plc is the holding company of a group which aims to promote the mass market appeal of chess globally through the commercial offering of chess related activities. This includes the organisation of top-level tournaments, operation of the official online gaming platform of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and other sport, lifestyle and social activities, and merchandise related to chess.
•  
• Chess is a global mass participation sport with more than 600 million active players, with numbers increasing due to the growth of online platforms, however it is still much less commercialised than other sports. Market expansion remains in its early stages, and World Chess is well-positioned to take advantage of the sector's growth through online, in-person and hybrid chess events and activities, and by providing complementary product offerings to players, spectators, and partners. 
•  
• The Directors believe that Admission will enable access to capital on an ongoing basis to fund the Group's growth trajectory through investment in its online platform and marketing strategies, and will also improve the Group's public profile.
•  
• Highlights
  
  
• ●    World Chess aims to make chess more accessible and increase participation, updating the image of chess, supporting the recent surge in the popularity of the sport
  
  
• ●     Mission to support the commercial growth of chess and its wider enjoyment around the world through a complementary product and service offering, the World Chess Ecosystem
•  
• ●     World Chess Ecosystem covers official online FIDE gaming platform, events and competitions, clubs, media, talent, sponsorship and merchandise. 
•  
• ●     Partner of the International Chess Federation ("FIDE") since 2012, with an exclusive position to offer online ratings and titles, recognized by FIDE, to players. 
•  
• ●     Operator of FIDE Online Arena, the official FIDE online gaming platform, allowing subscribing players of all levels to participate in ranked online matches, and organiser of top-level professional tournaments including the Grand Prix series
•  
• ●    World Chess is leading the way for chess to catch up with other sports and compete for global attention through growing media, sponsorship and talent management activities
  
  
• ●    Commercial potential of chess historically overlooked by global media and business despite chess being a global, mass participation sport, typically over-represented in higher income and educational qualification demographic groups
•  
• ●    Experienced and passionate management team with extensive experience working in the chess industry
• 
  
  
• Ilya Merenzon, Chief Executive Officer of World Chess, said: "I am pleased to be announcing our intention to float on the London market at a transformational time for chess and for our business. There continues to be an explosion of interest in chess, which has accelerated through recent years and even more during the pandemic. To keep pace with this growth we are scaling up our operations and expanding our range of services internationally.
•  
• "We believe chess is the only remaining mass participation sport not yet fully benefitting from the creativity and investment of the commercial sector. As the business world begins to recognise the opportunity to profitably offer chess fans more of what they want, there is an incredible opportunity to continue increasing interest in chess worldwide. Our goal is to build on the foundations of millennia of people playing chess for fun as well as for intellectual challenge, reinvent the game of chess so it fits more easily into modern lifestyles and, above all, ensure chess is accessible to more people.
•  
• "Our ecosystem business model supports fans through their lifelong chess experience. We help players, sponsors and partner organisations, and are committed to a sustainable approach to business. We have the advantage of being an established brand with almost a decade of experience hosting high-level events globally. Our online offering benefits from using a newly built technology platform to leverage the established World Chess brand.
•  
• "We are hugely passionate about chess and can't wait to take the next step in developing the sport that looks like a hybrid of e-sports with a Nobel prize awards ceremony."

So why is World Chess, who have all of FIDE's gaming rights, floating then?

Especially at a time when almost no other new companies are IPOing?

And here's the rub, FIDE make money. I could name a few dozen companies off the top of my head that floated for far greater value in the last 2-3 years that have never made 1 single thin red cent. Many have never even made any revenue, let a lone profit.

World Chess Plc

("World Chess" or the "Company" or the "Group")

Official opening of World Chess Club Berlin

World Chess Plc (LSE: CHSS), a leading chess organisation seeking to promote the mass market appeal of chess globally through the commercial offering of different chess-related activities, is pleased to announce that World Chess Club Berlin (the "Club") has now officially opened.

The opening marks the launch of World Chess' ambitions to reinvent the chess club culture in its entirety. The aim is to modernise the concept to fit more readily into mainstream society and function more as a social and collaborative centre. World Chess sees Berlin as an obvious location to debut this new and revised approach, given the cumulative factors of the substantial popularity of chess within Germany, and its vibrant café and bar scene. 

The Club is located in the centre of the city on the popular street of Unter Den Linden, which starkly contrasts traditional chess clubs that have lately functioned out of multipurpose rooms. It will operate as a bar, event space, concept chess shop, coffee shop, and café and is hoped to set a new standard for the whole industry. 

World Chess Club Berlin will also act as a hub, hosting chess events for the respective city as well as the rest of Europe. In addition, it will operate as the Armageddon Chess Series' headquarters, with the 2023 series already being staged and filmed from its bespoke, purpose-built studio.

As the Berlin Club is part of the World Chess ecosystem, members of the FIDE Online Arena will get additional discounts and member-only access to a limited number of events. In keeping with World Chess' aim to grow the sport and encourage people from all backgrounds, the Club is open to all with no need for a membership. 

The Club will not only operate as a symbolically significant space for the chess community but is also visually captivating, standing to act as a physical landmark for the sport going forward. World Chess believes this is only the beginning of the chess club renaissance and intends to open further clubs around the world in the future. 

Ilya Merenzon, Chief Executive Officer of World Chess, said:

"To date, chess has suffered from a lack of dedicated clubs and those that do exist are often very traditional, which can be intimidating for many. We wanted to build a club that is a symbolically significant space for the chess community, for both those living in and visiting Berlin.

"Whilst technology has allowed the sport to grow virtually, we are also seeing a growing trend of people wanting to meet and play together, so we want to help facilitate and promote this immensely important social component through the Berlin Club.

"The new club will play an important role in helping to bring chess out of the traditional stereotype and back into the modern world so that it can be shared and appreciated by all. The process of opening the World Chess Club Berlin has been very rewarding and we cannot wait to continue revolutionising chess clubs across the world in the future. Please do stop by if you are ever in Berlin and do let us know if you have a suggestion as to which city we should open our next club in!"