Anichess sets September 13 deadline to claim M8 token before move to base

In Brief:

• Anichess (official site) players must claim their M8 from staking pools by September 13, 2026, at 23:59 UTC.
• The studio completes its migration to Base, consolidating staking and liquidity on a single network.
• M8 functions as a points layer, earned through gameplay or staking, and cannot be purchased.

Deadline for M8 claims

Anichess has issued a notice for players to claim their M8 from staking pools by September 13, 2026, at 23:59 UTC. This deadline comes as Anichess completes its migration to Base, requiring players to transfer all M8 associated with their accounts.

Players holding M8 across multiple positions must make separate claims from each staking pool. Consolidation is key, as the migration aims to eliminate complexities associated with managing assets across different networks.

The chain migration

Anichess originally launched on Base in April 2025 but faced fragmentation when the CHECK token was introduced in November 2025. At that time, M8 accrual shifted to the Abstract network for staking and claims, while liquidity remained on Base through Aerodrome Finance. This bifurcation presented challenges for users unfamiliar with cross-chain asset management.

The recent move aims to streamline the experience by relocating all features—staking, claims, liquidity, and trading—back to Base. This eliminates the bridging step, simplifying participation.

An opt-in process prior to the deadline closed on September 7, allowing players to confirm participation with minimal effort through an in-game banner or the game’s homepage.

M8’s role in Anichess

M8 is not a purchasable token; it serves as Anichess’s on-chain points layer, and players earn it through gameplay or by staking CHECK. Completing 15 Standard matches in a week yields M8, with rewards dependent on player ratings. Staking CHECK also generates M8 passively.

M8 converts into entry tickets for Checkmate Arena, where 50 players compete weekly for a minimum of 500 CHECK. This positions M8 as a critical link between casual play and competitive rewards.

Failing to claim M8 means losing points obtained through gameplay or staked tokens, as these cannot be replaced by purchasing more.

About Anichess

Anichess is a free-to-play strategy game that adds an extra layer of complexity to traditional chess through magical spells. Founded by Animoca Brands and partnered with Chess.com, it reaches a broader audience than many other web3 games.

Players retain the core chess format while exploring additional mechanics that introduce new strategic possibilities. Anichess supports Android, iOS, and Windows with NFT integration.

The CHECK token is capped at 1 billion, with over half allocated for ecosystem growth and rewards. Launched on Coinbase on April 2, 2026, CHECK is utilized for tournament entry, staking, in-game purchases, and governance.

With a competitive calendar driven by seasonal play, Season 8 features a 700,000 CHECK prize pool, complemented by weekly competitions in Checkmate Arena.

Claims for M8 must be completed by September 13, 2026, with both staking pools requiring individual attention.