[2][3][4] The first Internet chess server (ICS), programmed by Michael Moore and Richard Nash, was launched on 15 January 1992.

The playing pool grew steadily, many of the server bugs were fixed, and players began to have higher expectations for stability.

He addressed, among other issues, the frequent complaint that players would lose blitz games on time due to Internet lag.

On 1 March 1995, Sleator announced his intentions to commercialize ICS, renaming it the Internet Chess Club, or ICC, and charging a yearly membership fee.

The site also offers access to libraries of games, recorded lectures and private lessons (at additional cost).

[6] The security of the system was criticised in December 2005 with claims that communications between ICC and users could easily be read and that the timestamping could be defeated.

The format was a Swiss system varying between 7 and 9 game rounds, with time controls (from CCT7 onwards) of 50 minutes and 3 second increments.