New rapid chess event will bring eight of the world’s leading grandmasters to Barcelona in January 2027
BETBY, the leading sportsbook supplier, has been announced as the powering sponsor of the newly launched MOVE Cup, an elite rapid chess tournament set to bring eight of the world’s leading grandmasters to Barcelona on 19 and 20 January 2027.
Officially unveiled at a press conference in Barcelona, the MOVE Cup aims to establish itself as a regular fixture on the international chess calendar, combining elite competition with a strong charitable purpose.
The tournament will feature a €300,000 prize fund, matched by an equal €300,000 contribution to the MOVE Foundation, which supports chess development, young talent, and research around chess and mental health.
Magnus Carlsen, BETBY’s global brand ambassador and widely regarded as the chess GOAT, has been confirmed as the first player in the line-up. The remaining seven grandmasters will be announced individually in the coming weeks.
BETBY’s support of the MOVE Cup builds on its growing connection with the global chess community. Carlsen first joined BETBY at ICE Barcelona in 2025, before returning for a second consecutive year in 2026, when the supplier brought together Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura and Levy Rozman for one of its most ambitious brand activations to date. The MOVE Cup represents the next step in that journey. Its programme will begin on 18 January with a charity activation at the BETBY stand (5K20) during ICE Barcelona, bringing together leading players, donors and partners in 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.”
The MOVE Cup tournament will take place on 19 and 20 January 2027 during ICE Barcelona week, following the charity activation at BETBY’s stand 5K20 on 18 January.