Checkmate Ecosystem welcomes Team Secret as esports partner; Team Secret adopts CHECK token

13 January 2026 – Checkmate Ecosystem, the gaming network for next-generation, community-owned strategy games utilizing blockchain technology, today announced that the global esports organization Team Secret™ has joined Checkmate Ecosystem. Team Secret will launch a Web3 Membership NFT Pass and integrate the CHECK Token (CHECK) across Team Secret’s global competitive ecosystem

The Team Secret Membership Pass is an NFT membership pass designed to provide high value utility for fans. Holders of the NFTs will gain exclusive gate-access to community tournaments, VIP ticket opportunities for global esports tours, and private Ask Me Anything (AMA) sessions with Team Secret players across its Dota 2, VALORANT, and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege X rosters.

In addition, Team Secret will adopt CHECK as a payment and participation token across its ecosystem, applicable towards merchandise from the Team Secret shop, tournament entry fees, and prize pools for select community and professional‑level events.

Team Secret will begin with hosting a series of high-profile Anichesstournaments, bridging the gap between traditional esports and the Web3 chess evolution. Anichess, the Web3 chess platform developed by Animoca Brands in partnership with Chess.com, is the launch partner of the Checkmate Ecosystem and has adopted the CHECK token into its gaming experience.

John Yao, chief executive officer of Team Secret, said: “At Team Secret, we’ve always been about striving for excellence and innovation. Joining Checkmate Ecosystem is a game-changer for digital engagement. By launching our Membership Pass NFT and adopting the CHECK token, we are moving toward a future where our fans have a direct stake in our ecosystem, from immediate utility in merchandise to unprecedented access to our players and global events.”

Chevan Tin, head of Anichess, added: “Team Secret, a titan in the global esports scene, joining the Checkmate Ecosystem is a massive step in showcasing how CHECK can serve as a foundational utility token in high-level competitive gaming. Anichess and Team Secret are not just looking at a one-off campaign, we are building a long-term infrastructure for fan empowerment through membership NFTs and tokenized rewards that will redefine the esports experience for years to come.”

About Team Secret

Team Secret™ is a world-renowned global esports brand founded in 2014. Committed to bringing together the best players to compete on the world’s biggest stages, Team Secret fields successful rosters across major competitive titles, including Dota 2, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege X, and VALORANT. The organization is passionately committed to building the esports community and fostering a winning culture.

About Checkmate Ecosystem and CHECK

The Checkmate Ecosystem is dedicated to cultivating a global movement of strategic and competitive thinkers by supporting next-generation, community-owned games through blockchain technology. Its native token, CHECK, underpins in-game economies, facilitates the purchase of in-game and real-world assets like merchandise, and supports decentralized governance for platform partners. The ecosystem’s launch partner is Anichess, a Web3 evolution of chess created by Animoca Brands and backed by Chess.com and five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen.

About Animoca Brands

Animoca Brands Corporation Limited (ACN: 122 921 813) is a global digital assets leader building blockchain and tokenized assets to advance the future of Web3 innovation. It has received broad industry and market recognition including Fortune Crypto 40, Top 50 Blockchain Game Companies 2025, Financial Times’ High Growth Companies Asia-Pacific, and Deloitte Tech Fast. Animoca Brands is recognized for building digital asset platforms such as the Moca Network, Open Campus, and The Sandbox, as well as institutional grade assets; providing digital asset services to help Web3 companies launch and grow; and investing in frontier Web3 technology, with a portfolio of over 600 companies and altcoin assets. For more information visit www.animocabrands.com or follow on X, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and TikTok.