Why Is Cricket Entering Web3 Through Sixer Smash?
What happens when cricket’s biggest names and Web3 gaming collide? That is the question behind Sixer Smash, a new mini-game launched by SCOR on Sweet in partnership with Winners Alliance. The release introduces more than 600 licensed professional cricketers into a mobile-first, arcade-style environment where fans can play as their favorite athletes.
Unlike typical cricket simulations, Sixer Smash borrows swipe mechanics similar to Fruit Ninja. Players hit virtual cricket balls for sixes, stack Gems, and eventually convert these Gems into $SCOR tokens. These tokens can be exchanged for rewards like signed memorabilia and exclusive access to digital experiences.
The launch comes at a time when the International Cricket Council (ICC) has been exploring its own mobile gaming ventures. Interestingly, the ICC has looked at licensing without direct player involvement, but Sixer Smash flips that model. By working with Winners Alliance, the game is built around athlete licensing, ensuring players are directly represented.
Which Cricket Stars Are Part of the Game?
Sixer Smash debuts with a lineup that will be instantly recognizable to cricket fans. Rashid Khan, Jofra Archer, Ben Stokes, Andre Russell, and Chris Gayle are among the first avatars available. Each player brings a unique identity: Rashid with spin, Stokes with all-round ability, Russell with raw power, and Gayle, who famously calls himself the “Universe Boss.”
Additional cricketers like Ellyse Perry, Pat Cummins, Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, and Heinrich Klaasen are also available to unlock. Winners Alliance has secured rights for hundreds more, making this one of the largest athlete-driven integrations in Web3 sports gaming so far.
Manny Redruello, VP of Games at Winners Alliance, explained the approach:
“This is a great example of why we built Winners Alliance, to help our athlete collectives reach fans worldwide in new and meaningful ways. We are continuously exploring opportunities to bring athletes into different gameplay experiences, even beyond sports.”
How Does Sixer Smash Reward Fans Beyond Gameplay?
SCOR on Sweet has positioned its ecosystem as a merit-based model. Players do not earn rewards simply by showing up; instead, tokens and items are tied to skill and activity.
According to Sweet’s metrics:
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In-app purchases have grown 650 percent in the last 30 days.
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15 percent of organic users play for at least 5 consecutive days.
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30 percent of organic users return for at least 2 days in a row.
Notably, these numbers exclude token incentives. Engagement is being driven by gameplay itself, not speculation.
To mark the launch, a competitive event has been rolled out. Top players will earn whitelist access to limited edition NFT sticker packs. These will be among the first Telegram-based cricket IP stickers, bridging the gap between mobile gaming and Web3 collectibles.
Tom Mizzone, CEO of Sweet, summarized the intent:
“Cricket is pure adrenaline, fast, global, and built for moments. With Sixer Smash, we are turning those moments into a game that is as fun and rewarding as the sport itself.”
Why Is This Different From Previous Cricket Games?
Cricket video games are not new. Titles like Stick Cricket or the licensed Cricket 22 franchise have long attracted fans. The difference here lies in ownership and licensing. Traditionally, publishers struck deals with governing bodies or boards. In Sixer Smash, athletes themselves are central.
This shift is significant. For the first time, professional cricketers are offering their name, image, and likeness (NIL) as part of a group licensing deal tied to a Web3 game. It mirrors movements in tennis, basketball, and football, where player associations have begun asserting greater control over commercial rights.
For cricket, a sport with deep global fanbases but fragmented governance, this could set a precedent. Players having direct say in digital representation may redefine how games are developed and monetized.
Final Outlook
Sixer Smash is not just another mobile cricket game. It is a test case for how athletes and fans can connect in the Web3 era without going through federations or middlemen. The fact that Winners Alliance and Sweet secured athlete rights directly is a statement: players want a bigger role in shaping how their digital identity is used.
The most interesting element is not the gameplay itself, but the potential ripple effect. If fans adopt Sixer Smash in large numbers, governing bodies like the ICC may have to rethink their licensing strategy. Athlete-driven licensing, combined with Web3 ownership models, could become a long-term shift in sports gaming.
As a journalist and observer, I see this as part of a bigger story: sports are no longer confined to the pitch or broadcast deals. They are being redefined inside mini-apps, tokens, and mobile-first ecosystems that reward interaction, not just viewership. Whether Sixer Smash sustains long-term engagement will depend on more than nostalgia or celebrity power, but for now, it has put the players, not the institutions, in control.
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