By India McCarty
Stephen A. Smith lends his sports expertise to a brand-new game, serving as the ambassador for the upcoming first-ever World Solitaire Championship.
“When I first heard about the World Solitaire Championship, I was intrigued,” Smith said in a statement. “They’re taking a classic game and turning it into something bigger, something that celebrates skill and competition, and that’s something I’m proud to be a part of.”
The WSC is being put on by Papaya, a mobile-gaming company. They began eyeing Smith for the ambassador role after he was seen playing solitaire on his phone during Game 4 of the NBA finals this summer.
“When Stephen A. Smith was caught playing Solitaire courtside during the NBA Finals, we knew right away that this was more than a viral moment; it was proof of how timeless and irresistible this game is,” Uri Pearl, VP of Marketing at Papaya, said. “Stephen A. embodies the spirit of the World Solitaire Championship, which is about the Power of Play, competition, culture, and personality. Choosing him as our ambassador felt completely natural.”
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Y’all really mad I was playing Solitaire during the Finals?
Maybe ask yourself why. Join now for the first time ever – World Solitaire Championship.Starting today on the Solitaire Cash App
Download Now 👇🏾
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) November 3, 2025
As part of this partnership, Papaya is launching an AI-driven campaign to promote the finals, led by creative lab and advertising agency Ariely Original.
The WSC “is the first-ever global competition for Solitaire, transforming one of the world’s most iconic casual games into a thrilling cultural event,” per Papaya. “Players from around the world will compete for prizes, recognition, and a weekend experience at Temple House Miami, South Beach’s premier event venue.”
The top 400 finalists will play on Solitaire Cash to compete for the title of World Solitaire Champion, with a prize pool of $300,000 handed out to the top players.
“We believe play has the power to create meaningful connections that go far beyond the screen,” Oriel Bachar, Co-Founder and CEO of Papaya, said, via ESports Insider. “Our vision is to bring people together through competition, community, and shared experiences, and the World Solitaire Championship is another step in making that vision a reality.”
The winner of the tournament will make history as the first-ever World Solitaire Champion — and take home $150,000 in prize money.
The big event will take place in February of 2026, but qualifications for the WSC are open now, running through Nov. 23. For any solitaire fans, here’s your big chance to prove your stuff — and potentially take home some big prizes.
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