Mobile gaming company Papaya has named Stephen A. Smith the official ambassador for the upcoming and first-ever World Solitaire Championship (WSC).
The team-up comes after Smith was spotted playing solitaire on his cell phone during Game 4 of the 2025 NBA Finals between Oklahoma City and the Indiana Pacers. Following that viral moment, Smith has taken his passion for solitaire games one step further by partnering with Papaya for the inaugural World Solitaire Championship, scheduled to be held in Miami next February.
According to Papaya, “The World Solitaire Championship is Solitaire’s first global competition, transforming one of the world’s most iconic casual games into a thrilling cultural event. Players from around the world compete for prizes, visibility and a weekend experience at South Beach’s premier event venue, Temple House Miami.”
“When I first heard about the World Solitaire Championship, I was intrigued,” Smith said. “They’re taking a classic game and turning it into something bigger, something that celebrates skill and competition. I’m proud to be a part of that.”
“When Stephen A. Smith was spotted playing solitaire courtside during the NBA Finals, we instantly knew this was more than just a trendy moment. It was a testament to how timeless and captivating this game is,” said Yuri Pearl, Papaya’s vice president of marketing. “Stephen A. embodies the spirit of the World Solitaire Championship, which is about the power of play, competition, culture and individuality. He felt like a natural choice to be our ambassador.”
As part of its partnership with Smith, Papaya will launch an AI-driven online campaign to promote the finals. The campaign is led by creative lab and advertising agency, Ariely Original, in partnership with leading visual effects and creative studio, The Artery, and Too Short for Modeling as writer and director.
Mr. Smith is repped by Envisionary and WME.
