Terms of Service

Last updated: March 5, 2026

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using the Chessd application ("Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree, do not use the Service.

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old to use Chessd. By creating an account and participating in staked games, you confirm that you are of legal age and that online skill-based gaming with real money is permitted in your jurisdiction.

3. Account Registration

• You must provide accurate and complete information when creating an account
• You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account credentials
• You may not create multiple accounts
• We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these terms

4. Game Rules and Fair Play

4.1 Fair Play Policy

Chessd is a skill-based platform. The following are strictly prohibited:

• Use of chess engines, bots, or computer-assisted play during games
• Colluding with other players to manipulate game outcomes
• Intentionally losing games to transfer funds (chip dumping)
• Exploiting bugs or vulnerabilities in the application
• Using multiple accounts to gain an unfair advantage

4.2 Game Mechanics

• All staked games use a 10+0 blitz time control
• Stakes are locked from your wallet when you join a queue or accept a challenge
• The winner receives both stakes minus a 20% house fee
• Draws result in both stakes being refunded to the respective players
• Disconnection during a game does not pause the clock; you may lose on time

5. Wallet and Payments

5.1 Deposits

• Deposits can be made via M-Pesa (KES) or USDT (cryptocurrency)
• Deposited funds are reflected in your in-app wallet after payment confirmation
• We are not responsible for delays caused by third-party payment processors

5.2 Withdrawals

• You may withdraw your wallet balance at any time via M-Pesa or USDT
• Withdrawals are processed as quickly as possible but may take up to 24 hours
• We reserve the right to verify your identity before processing large withdrawals

5.3 Escrow

When you enter a staked game, your stake amount is deducted from your wallet and held in escrow. The escrow is settled when the game concludes. If you leave the matchmaking queue before being matched, your stake is refunded immediately.

6. House Fee

Chessd charges a 20% fee on game winnings. This fee is deducted from the winner's payout. For example, in a KES 100 game, the total pool is KES 200, and the winner receives KES 160 (KES 200 minus 20%).

7. Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to:

• Violate any applicable laws or regulations
• Use the Service for money laundering or other illegal financial activities
• Harass, abuse, or send offensive content to other players
• Reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the application
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems or other users' accounts
• Use automated tools or scripts to interact with the Service

8. Intellectual Property

All content, trademarks, logos, and intellectual property displayed on Chessd are owned by us or our licensors. You may not copy, modify, distribute, or create derivative works without our written permission.

9. Disclaimer of Warranties

The Service is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, express or implied. We do not guarantee that the Service will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free.

10. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Chessd shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including loss of profits, data, or funds, arising out of or related to your use of the Service.

11. Dispute Resolution

If a dispute arises regarding a game result or transaction, please contact our support team. We will review the server-side game logs and transaction records to resolve the dispute fairly. Our decision on game-related disputes is final.

12. Modifications

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated date. Continued use of the Service after modifications constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

13. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your access to the Service at any time for violation of these Terms, suspected cheating, or any other reason at our discretion. Upon termination, any remaining wallet balance (minus pending stakes) will be available for withdrawal for 30 days.

14. Contact

For questions about these Terms, contact us at legal@chessd.app or through our contact form.