Terms of Service

Agreement to Terms

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) constitute a legally binding agreement between you (“User”, “you”, or “your”) and WitShells Studio (SMC-Private Limited) (“WitShells”, “we”, “us”, or “our”), governing your access to and use of the WitChess mobile application, website at witchess.witshells.com, and all related services (collectively the “Platform”).

By downloading, installing, registering for, or using the Platform in any way, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms in their entirety. If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not use the Platform.

Eligibility

General Access — Age 13 and Above

WitChess is a chess platform open to players aged 13 and above. Users aged 13 and older may access all gameplay features including:

Playing free matches and ranked matches
Earning and spending WitCoin within the Platform
Participating in the monthly leaderboard
Watching optional rewarded advertisements
Accessing all chess and social features of the Platform

Prize and Withdrawal Access — Age 18 and Above

Due to legal requirements governing monetary rewards in most jurisdictions, the following features are restricted to users aged 18 years or older:

Eligibility for USDT prize pool distribution
Submitting withdrawal requests for USDT rewards
Registering a cryptocurrency wallet address

Users under 18 who reach top leaderboard positions will appear on the leaderboard and earn WitCoin rewards. Their position will be acknowledged. However, USDT prize eligibility for that position will pass to the next eligible user aged 18 or above. This ensures fair prize distribution while keeping the Platform open and inclusive for younger chess players.

Users under the age of 13 are not permitted to use the Platform. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child under 13 has registered an account, please contact us immediately at privacy@witshells.com and we will promptly delete the account and all associated data.

General Conditions

You may use the Platform only if:

You meet the age requirements described above for the features you wish to access
You are not prohibited from using the Platform under the laws of your country of residence or any applicable jurisdiction
You have not previously been suspended or permanently removed from the Platform by WitShells

If you are accessing the Platform on behalf of a business or other legal entity, you represent that you have the authority to bind that entity to these Terms.

Parents and guardians of users aged 13–17 are responsible for supervising their use of the Platform and are encouraged to review these Terms with their child.

Nature of the Platform

WitChess is a free-to-play, skill-based competitive chess platform open to players aged 13 and above. The Platform is rated 13+ on Google Play Store. The Platform operates on the following foundational principles that define its legal and ethical character:

Skill-Based Competition

All match outcomes on WitChess are determined entirely by the skill of the players. Chess is universally recognized as a game of skill. There are no random elements, chance mechanics, loot boxes, or luck-based systems that influence match outcomes or prize eligibility.

Free to Play

Participation in all matches, leaderboard competitions, and prize pool events on WitChess is free. Users are never required to pay any real money to enter any competition, access any match type, or become eligible for prizes.

Earn Model

The WitChess earn model is designed as a halal, ethical, skill-rewarding system. Players earn rewards through demonstrated chess skill and platform engagement — not through financial risk, speculation, or chance.

Not Gambling

WitChess is not a gambling platform. No gambling, wagering, or betting of real money takes place on the Platform. The presence of prizes does not constitute gambling because:

Users pay no real money consideration to participate
Outcomes are determined by skill not chance
Prize pools are funded entirely by platform revenue and voluntary sponsor contributions — not by player buy-ins

WitCoin (WIT) — Internal Utility Currency

What WitCoin Is

WitCoin (WIT) is an internal utility currency created and managed exclusively by WitShells for use within the WitChess Platform. WitCoin is:

A virtual utility token with no existence outside the Platform
Earned through gameplay, engagement, and platform activities
Used to participate in ranked stake matches, unlock features, and access platform utilities
Distributed as leaderboard rewards at month end

What WitCoin Is Not

WitCoin is explicitly and unambiguously not:

A cryptocurrency, blockchain token, or digital asset of any kind
A financial instrument, security, or investment product
Legal tender or a substitute for real currency
Purchasable with real money from WitShells

WitCoin has no guaranteed monetary value. WitShells makes no representation that WitCoin holds, will hold, or should hold any real-world value. WitCoin cannot be redeemed for real money directly from WitShells.

WitCoin Stake Matches

In ranked matches, players may choose to stake WitCoin. The winning player receives the losing player’s staked WitCoin. This is a virtual currency mechanic identical to in-game currency systems used across the mobile gaming industry. It does not constitute gambling as no real money is staked or won.

WitCoin Terms

WitCoin balances are tied to your account and have no value outside it
We reserve the right to adjust, correct, or reset WitCoin balances in cases of fraud, technical error, or abuse
WitCoin may be transferred between user accounts through two permitted methods only: (1) the in-game ranked stake match system where the winner receives the loser’s staked WitCoin, and (2) direct peer-to-peer transfer between registered WitChess users within the Platform. P2P transfers are final and irreversible once confirmed. WitShells is not responsible for transfers sent to incorrect accounts
Unused WitCoin has no claim to compensation if your account is terminated for violation of these Terms
WitShells reserves the right to modify WitCoin earn rates, costs, and utility features at any time

Prize Pool and USDT Rewards

How the Prize Pool Works

WitChess operates a monthly leaderboard competition. At the end of each monthly cycle, a prize pool is distributed among the top-ranked players. The prize pool is funded by:

Voluntary sponsor contributions
A percentage of the Platform’s monthly advertising revenue

The prize pool is not guaranteed. In months where sponsor contributions are absent and advertising revenue is insufficient, the USDT prize pool may be reduced or may not exist. In such months, WitCoin leaderboard rewards will still be distributed. WitShells will communicate transparently about prize pool availability before the end of each monthly cycle.

Prize Distribution

Prize distribution follows a skill-ranked, geometric decay formula applied to the total available pool. The number of prize winners scales with the size of the active leaderboard. Distribution details are published within the Platform each month.

100% of the available USDT prize pool is distributed to eligible winning users. WitShells does not retain any portion of the USDT prize pool.

Eligibility for Prizes

To be eligible to receive USDT prizes you must:

Be aged 18 years or older
Have a verified account in good standing
Have accumulated leaderboard points through legitimate gameplay only
Have a valid USDT wallet address submitted in your account settings before the distribution date
Not be under investigation for any violation of these Terms
Reside in a jurisdiction where receiving such rewards is lawful

Users aged 13–17 are not eligible for USDT prize distribution. If an under-18 user finishes in a prize-eligible leaderboard position, their USDT allocation passes to the next eligible user aged 18 or above. Under-18 users in prize positions will receive the equivalent WitCoin reward for their rank instead.

Prize Disqualification

We reserve the right to disqualify any user from prize eligibility if we determine, in our sole discretion, that the user has:

Used any form of chess engine assistance, bot, or automated play
Created multiple accounts to manipulate leaderboard rankings
Colluded with other players to artificially inflate rankings
Exploited bugs or technical vulnerabilities
Engaged in any form of fraud or misrepresentation
Violated any provision of these Terms

Disqualified prizes are redistributed to eligible players or returned to the prize pool at WitShells’ discretion.

Withdrawal of USDT Prizes

USDT prizes are withdrawn by submitting a withdrawal request within the Platform:

A minimum withdrawal threshold applies as published within the Platform
A platform service fee of 2% of the withdrawal amount is deducted to cover transaction and operational costs
Withdrawals are processed manually or automatically to the wallet address registered in your account
Processing time may vary and is not guaranteed. Typical processing is within 3–7 business days
WitShells is not responsible for errors caused by incorrect wallet addresses submitted by users. Always verify your wallet address before submitting
WitShells is not responsible for losses resulting from blockchain network issues, wallet provider failures, or transaction failures outside our control
USDT transactions on public blockchain networks are irreversible once processed. Ensure your wallet address is correct

Tax Responsibility

You are solely responsible for determining and fulfilling any tax obligations arising from prizes or rewards received through the Platform. WitShells does not provide tax advice. Consult a qualified tax professional in your jurisdiction.

Advertising

The Platform offers optional rewarded video advertisements through Unity LevelPlay and associated advertising partners. Watching advertisements is entirely voluntary and initiated by the user. You are never required to watch an advertisement to play the game.

By choosing to watch a rewarded advertisement, you acknowledge that:

The advertisement content is provided by third-party ad networks
WitShells is not responsible for the content of third-party advertisements
Third-party advertising partners may collect device and usage data as described in our Privacy Policy

User Accounts

Registration

You must create an account to access most Platform features. You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and to keep your account information updated.

Account Security

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account. You must:

Choose a strong, unique password
Not share your account credentials with any other person
Notify us immediately at cto@witshells.com if you suspect unauthorized access to your account

WitShells will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from unauthorized use of your account.

One Account Per Person

You may create and maintain only one account per person. Creating multiple accounts to gain unfair advantages, accumulate additional new-user rewards, or manipulate leaderboard rankings is strictly prohibited and will result in permanent ban of all associated accounts.

Account Termination by User

You may delete your account at any time through the Platform settings or by contacting us. Upon deletion, your personal data will be handled as described in our Privacy Policy. Any WitCoin balance, pending prizes, or unclaimed rewards forfeit upon voluntary account deletion unless a withdrawal request was submitted prior to deletion.

Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to engage in any of the following:

Using chess engines, bots, automated tools, or artificial intelligence assistance during matches
Cheating, exploiting bugs, or using any unauthorized third-party software
Harassing, threatening, or abusing other users
Impersonating any person, entity, or WitShells staff member
Attempting to gain unauthorized access to any part of the Platform or its systems
Interfering with or disrupting the Platform’s infrastructure, servers, or networks
Scraping, crawling, or data mining the Platform without express written permission
Creating accounts for any purpose other than genuine personal use
Using the Platform for any illegal purpose or in violation of any applicable law
Attempting to reverse engineer, decompile, or extract source code from the Platform
Engaging in any conduct that WitShells determines, in its sole discretion, to be harmful to the Platform or its users

Violation of these prohibitions may result in immediate account suspension or permanent termination, forfeiture of all WitCoin and prize eligibility, and legal action where appropriate.

Intellectual Property

WitShells Intellectual Property

The Platform and all its contents including but not limited to software, code, graphics, user interface design, artwork, logos, trademarks, text, and the WitChess and WitShells names are the exclusive intellectual property of WitShells Studio (SMC-Private Limited) and are protected by applicable intellectual property laws.

You are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable licence to use the Platform solely for your personal, non-commercial entertainment purposes in accordance with these Terms.

Restrictions

You may not:

Copy, reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from any Platform content
Use WitShells or WitChess trademarks, logos, or branding without express written permission
Remove, alter, or obscure any intellectual property notices on the Platform

User Content

If you submit any content to the Platform including usernames, avatars, or communications, you grant WitShells a worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive licence to use, display, and reproduce that content in connection with operating and promoting the Platform.

Third-Party Services

The Platform integrates with third-party services including advertising networks, analytics providers, cloud infrastructure, and payment processing. Your use of these third-party services is subject to their own terms and privacy policies. WitShells is not responsible for the practices or content of third-party services.

Disclaimers

Platform Availability

WitShells does not guarantee that the Platform will be available at all times, uninterrupted, or error-free. We may suspend, modify, or discontinue any part of the Platform at any time with or without notice.

Prize Pool Disclaimer

WitShells does not guarantee any specific prize pool amount in any given month. Prize pools depend on sponsor contributions and advertising revenue, both of which are variable. Past prize pool amounts are not indicative of future amounts.

No Financial Advice

Nothing on the Platform constitutes financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. WitCoin is not an investment. Do not use the Platform with any expectation of financial return beyond the prize rewards described in these Terms.

Skill-Based Nature

While WitChess is a skill-based platform, WitShells makes no guarantee that any particular user will earn prizes or WitCoin rewards. Prizes are distributed to top-ranked players only. The majority of players will not receive USDT prizes in any given month.

Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, WitShells, its directors, employees, and agents shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages including but not limited to loss of profits, loss of data, or loss of goodwill arising from or related to your use of the Platform.

Our total liability to you for any claim arising from or related to these Terms or the Platform shall not exceed the total amount of USDT prizes paid to you in the three months preceding the claim.

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless WitShells and its officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses including reasonable legal fees arising from your use of the Platform, your violation of these Terms, or your violation of any rights of a third party.

Governing Law and Disputes

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Any disputes arising from these Terms or the Platform shall first be attempted to be resolved through good-faith negotiation. If negotiation fails, disputes shall be submitted to the courts of competent jurisdiction in Pakistan.

If you are accessing the Platform from outside Pakistan, you agree that Pakistani law governs these Terms regardless of conflict of law principles.

Modifications to Terms

WitShells reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. When we make material changes, we will notify you through the Platform or by email at least 30 days before the changes take effect.

Your continued use of the Platform after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms. If you do not agree to the updated Terms, you must stop using the Platform.

The current version of these Terms is always available at witchess.witshells.com/terms.

Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, that provision shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and WitShells regarding your use of the Platform and supersede all prior agreements and understandings.

Contact

If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us:

WitShells Studio (SMC-Private Limited)
Email: legal@witshells.com
General: cto@witshells.com
Website: witchess.witshells.com

We aim to respond to all legal inquiries within 30 days.