Papaya names Stephen A. Smith as WSC ambassador
Smith represents one of ESPN’s leading television personalities, and was spotted playing solitaire during game four of the 2024-2025 NBA Finals to help promote the gaming type.
Skill-based mobile games provider Papaya has named ESPN television personality Stephen A. Smith as the official ambassador of the first-ever World Solitaire Championship (WSC), set to take place from Miami in February 2026.
“When I first heard about the (WSC), I was intrigued. 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,” Smith said.
The ESPN host was spotted playing solitaire during game four of the 2024-2025 NBA Finals in June, helping to first market the gaming type prior to the ambassador collaboration.
“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,” Papaya VP of Marketing Uri Pearl said.
“Stephen A. embodies the spirit of the (WSC), which is about the Power of Play, competition, culture and personality. Choosing him as our ambassador felt completely natural.”
The WSC is said to represent the first-ever worldwide solitaire competition, where contestants will compete for prizes and a weekend experience at Temple House Miami. Papaya is launching a new online campaign to help promote the event, with Smith set to be featured heavily within the initiative.
The AI-driven campaign was created in partnership between Papaya, Ariely Original, The Artery and Too Short, working to spotlight solitaire as a skill-based competition for adults.
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