When Marek, our Head of Education, mentioned he wants to participate at Chess960 Bitcoin tournament on Roatán, Honduras, I didn’t quite know what to expect from it. Bitcoin and Chess did not sound like a go-to connection to me.

It turned out to be one of those rare events that feel both calm and meaningful at the same time. No rush, no noise – just people thinking, playing, and enjoying the process.

Chess960 changes the game in a subtle but important way. By randomizing the starting positions, it removes the comfort of memorized openings. You can’t rely on preparation. You have to understand what you’re doing.

That felt very familiar.

Bitcoin does something similar. It strips things down to first principles. It asks you to think for yourself, to question assumptions, and to build your understanding from the ground up.

What surprised me most, though, was the atmosphere. It was genuinely relaxed. Good people, good conversations, and a shared curiosity – not just about chess, but about Bitcoin and how it shapes the way we think.

In this video, Marek shares just a small part of his experience. If you wanted to know more, make sure that you do not miss the next Bitcoin Chess event, because it is genuinely worth it.

For those interesting to see how the Open qualification went, here are the results.

And for those of you, who really want to know who won the whole event, check the results here.