Joveljic elevates Sporting KC’s profile with Chess.com bot launch
The 26-year-old joins Christian Pulisic as one of only two soccer players with a playable bot on the site, while aiming to establish inter-league chess competitions in American sports.
Sporting Kansas City striker Dejan Joveljic has launched a playable chess bot on Chess.com, establishing himself as the highest-rated soccer player on the platform. The 26-year-old Serbian international holds a classical rating of 2217 and peaks above 2500 in blitz formats, joining Christian Pulisic as one of only two footballers to feature a bot on the site alongside athletes from the NBA, NFL, MLB, and WNBA.
Joveljic credits the game with enhancing his tactical awareness and ability to outthink defenders on the pitch. He compares his playing style to a chess pawn due to its versatility and potential to promote to any piece, rather than the queen. This approach has contributed to a prolific period in his career; since 2023, he has scored 51 goals in MLS play, the third-highest total in the league behind Denis Bouanga, Lionel Messi, and Brian White.
The striker helped lead the Los Angeles Galaxy to an MLS Cup title during this period, but his current focus is on revitalising Sporting Kansas City’s campaign. Despite leading the team with six goals this season, Sporting sits eight points out of a playoff place and has scored the fewest goals in MLS play. Joveljic described his style as aggressive and dynamic, noting that he prefers open positions where he can sacrifice pieces to checkmate opponents.
Joveljic honed his chess skills during childhood with his father and grandfather and typically plays blitz matches, which take approximately three minutes, during MLS downtime. Standard tournaments can take up to seven days, making them impractical during the season. A chess board in the Sporting Kansas City locker room has become a regular fixture, where Joveljic reportedly dominates his teammates in casual matches.
Looking beyond his own performance, Joveljic aims to see more chess competitions among American athletes across different leagues. He suggested a tournament structure where winners from various leagues face off to determine the top chess player among athletes in America, noting that the NFL already hosts such events. He has also expressed interest in playing against Mohamed Salah and Magnus Carlsen if opportunities arise.
