W(AR) CHESS

Stockfishing
Bounty On A Piece
Cosmetic Preview

Inspiration

Chess is powerful but intimidating for beginners. We wanted to make learning chess feel like entering a living game world, not studying a rulebook.

What it does

W(AR) CHESS is an AR chess experience where pieces talk, a Gemini Live narrator analyzes the match, and an AI coach explains moves. Fun roles, cosmetics, and rewards make the learning strategy feel like playing a game.

How we built it

We built the experience using ARKit for immersive gameplay, Stockfish for chess analysis, and Gemini Live for narration and coaching. A custom dialogue and reward system makes the board feel alive.

Challenges we ran into

Balancing education with fun was difficult—chess engine data is complex, so we had to translate it into beginner-friendly ideas. Coordinating narration, piece dialogue, and gameplay timing was also tricky.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We created a chess experience that feels alive and interactive, not static. The integration of AR, AI narration, and personality-driven pieces created a genuinely engrossing environment.

What we learned

We learned how powerful storytelling and feedback can be for teaching complex strategy. Combining game design with education can dramatically improve engagement.

What's next for W(AR) CHESS

Next, we want to expand multiplayer, add more piece personalities and cosmetics, and deepen the AI coaching system. Our goal is to make the most engaging way to learn chess ever built.