Showdown Lets Players Bet on Their Skills in CS2 and Chess

Key Takeaways

• Showdown has launched its closed alpha on Solana, allowing players to bet in $SOL or $USDC on their own matches in Counter-Strike 2 and Chess.
• The project is backed by major crypto figures from Polygon, EigenLayer, and Celestia, with a focus on fair and skill-based competition.
• Through its partnership with Opacity Network and use of ZkTLS, Showdown can now verify match results from closed-source games like Fortnite and Valorant.
  
   

A New Way to Compete and Earn

Showdown has officially entered its closed alpha phase on Solana. It’s a gaming platform that lets players bet on themselves instead of watching others play. Gamers can stake $SOL or $USDC on real matches, starting with Counter-Strike 2 and Chess. Wins are based purely on skill, making every match a personal challenge with real rewards.

Getting access to the alpha is still exclusive. You’ll need a referral code or have to apply through the waitlist or the team’s Discord server. The team sees this phase as the start of a shift in gaming — where skill becomes something valuable, not just for fun or bragging rights.

Unlike many blockchain projects that build new games, Showdown links directly with games players already enjoy. That means you don’t need to learn a new title — you can start competing right away in well-known games like CS2 or Chess.

You decide your own stakes and opponents. It’s a more direct way to compete and earn from personal skill. One early tester reportedly made 6 $SOL (around $1,149) in just a few days. The focus is simple: play fair, play well, and earn from your wins.

Solana Alpha and Monad Testnet Versions

While the main alpha is live on Solana, Showdown also runs a version on Monad for testing. Players from the Monad community can still access it through monad.showdown.win until the mainnet launch. This setup lets the team test new updates and game integrations before rolling them out to the full platform.

Showdown has drawn attention from some of the biggest names in the crypto space. Investors include Sreeram Kannan from EigenLayer, Sandeep Nailwal from Polygon, and Nick White from Celestia. Other supporters include Arcanum Capital, NPC Group, and Questbook.

These backers share a common idea: players should be able to turn skill and time into real value, without long payout waits or middlemen. It’s a player-first approach that combines competitive gaming with clear, onchain verification.

Even in testing, Showdown has hosted active tournaments and events. Competitive CS2 teams from Southeast Asia, chess grandmasters, and popular streamers have already played matches on the platform.

Showdown has also partnered with more than 15 gaming communities and colleges. These groups are helping to organize local tournaments built on Showdown’s model of compete, win, profit. It’s helping the platform grow from a testing phase into a full gaming ecosystem.

Source: X

Player Rewards and Fair Play

Over 1,000 CS2 skins have already been given away as player rewards. Users can form clans and join squad matches, with more team features coming soon. To keep things fair, the platform is developing a custom anti-cheat system.

Cheating remains a major issue in skill-based games, and Showdown wants to solve it early. The goal is a fair, transparent environment where results are trusted and payouts are instant.

A major step forward came with Showdown’s partnership with Opacity Network. Through a technology called ZkTLS, the platform can verify match results even from closed-source games like Fortnite, Valorant, PUBG, and Call of Duty.

ZkTLS allows encrypted game data to be verified directly from HTTPS traffic. It doesn’t need access to private game APIs or servers. This means Showdown can track real match outcomes securely and reflect them onchain, opening a door to many popular games that were previously locked to third-party integrations.

Source: X

How It Works for Players

Players connect their existing game profile to the Opacity mobile app, which generates a secure token. Showdown uses this token to confirm the match session and results. This system is already being tested with Fortnite, with early wagering features showing positive results.

With the ZkTLS setup, Showdown’s list of future titles is growing fast. Games like PUBG, Valorant, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 are being prepared for launch, with Apex Legends and League of Legends also under review.

The team is also building new tools for streamers and tournament hosts, better clan systems, and a smoother mobile experience. Future updates will expand to mobile and survival genres, with more anti-cheat layers and leaderboard systems.

Right now, access to Showdown’s Solana alpha is invite-only. You can join through a referral or apply on the official waitlist or Discord. As development continues, the team plans to scale access, add new titles, and make the platform a trusted space where winning isn’t just about pride — it’s a real, provable way to earn.

More News: Version 1.4.0 Revamps Outlanders With $LAND and $NAKA Rewards