Papaya picked ESPN television host Stephen A. Smith as the official ambassador for the World Solitaire Championship. The skill-based mobile games provider announced the collaboration yesterday.
Smith isn’t new to solitaire. He was spotted playing the game courtside during game four of the 2024-2025 NBA Finals back in June. That moment went viral and helped market the gaming type months before this formal partnership.
The championship represents the first worldwide solitaire competition. It’ll take place in Miami this February 2026.
Why a Viral Moment Led to This Partnership
Papaya’s VP of Marketing Uri Pearl said Smith’s courtside solitaire session proved something important. “We knew right away that this was more than a viral moment,” Pearl explained. “It was proof of how timeless and irresistible this game is.”
The company saw that moment as evidence the game still resonates. Smith brings personality and competition to the table, exactly what the championship needs.
Pearl added that Smith “embodies the spirit of the (WSC), which is about the Power of Play, competition, culture and personality.” The choice felt natural to Papaya’s team.
What the Championship and Campaign Involve
The WSC gives contestants a shot at prizes and a weekend experience at Temple House Miami. Players compete in what Papaya calls a skill-based format.
Smith said he was intrigued when he first heard about the event. “They’re taking a classic game and turning it into something bigger, something that celebrates skill and competition,” he noted. “That’s something I’m proud to be a part of.”
Papaya’s launching a new online campaign to promote the February championship. Smith will be featured heavily throughout the marketing initiative.
The campaign itself uses AI-driven elements. Papaya created it alongside three partners: Ariely Original, The Artery and Too Short.
How This Positions Solitaire as Competitive Gaming
The campaign’s goal is straightforward. Spotlight solitaire as a skill-based competition for adults. That’s a shift from viewing it as just a casual time-killer.
Smith’s involvement brings credibility from the sports world. His ESPN platform gives the championship access to sports fans who might not have considered competitive card games before, and that NBA Finals moment? It already proved solitaire crosses demographics. Professional sports commentators play it. So do millions of others.
The championship format treats solitaire like any other competitive event. Players face off. Winners advance. Prizes await at the end. It’s familiar territory for sports fans, just with cards instead of balls.
