How "The Queen's Gambit" and streaming platforms have taken chess to a new level

Great sports stories require mountains, a soccer stadium, a water course, or a ski slope, don't they? In online chess, players turn their own home into an arena - and millions watch. We took a closer look at the eSports phenomenon and explain why online chess is so popular right now.

All insights at a glance:

1. Origin of online chess
2. Online Olympiads and The Queen's Gambit - why chess is booming
3. Twitch launches its own online chess tournament
4. Chess Creator on Youtube

After almost ten years, the world has a new World Chess Champion: Ding Liren, born in 1992, has replaced former champion Magnus Carlsen. After the decisive match against Russia's Jan Nepomnyashchi initially ended in a 7:7 draw, the continuation in a fast-paced match with tiebreaks was rescheduled for April 30, 2023. Ding Liren prevailed with Black after three draws to become the 17th World Chess Champion, the first from China.

The special thing about it: the stream of the FIDE World Championship 2023 was watched by an incredible 5.7 million viewers. How did chess become one of the most streamed sports and why is it so popular, especially as an eSport?

Origin of online chess

Online chess has been around for quite a while. In 1992 an Internet server for chess was designed and developed: the Internet Chess Club or ICS.

In 1995 the first online chess website caissa.com was launched, which has massively shaped the face of online chess. Since then, many other international providers have established themselves, such as chess.com or chess24. Currently, a total of over eight million people visit online chess websites.

How did the eSports game become so popular?

Online Olympiads and "The Queen's Gambit" - why chess is booming so much

One reason for the popularity of online chess? Clearly the pandemic: during the lockdowns, international players and experts began streaming their games live - either against each other or against a chess computer.

But there are other reasons why chess has become one of the most popular eSports games:

Twitch launches its own online chess tournament

Players like Hikaru Nakamura began streaming chess content on Twitch during the pandemic. The grandmaster shares professional tips and techniques for the game and gives insights into his life as a chess player. On average, 4,313 viewers* watch a chess stream on Twitch. Chess is one of the 20 most played games on the platform. That's why Twitch even hosted a tournament called "Pogchamps," featuring top Twitch streamers and world-class chess players. More than 150,000 viewers* simultaneously watched the matches. Chess.com hosted Pogchamps. And because the tournament was so successful, it was scheduled again for next year.

Chess Creator on Youtube

On Youtube, chess creators like John Bartholomew and Agadmator dominate the scene, having the opportunity to interact with their fans via the platform. This adds a social aspect to chess. In addition, the monetization opportunity motivates streamers to continue creating content - and perhaps turn a lucrative hobby into a main job.

Online chess took a classic board game to a new level. More than that, it became future-proof. Chess has tapped into a completely new and different audience that is younger, more female, and more diverse. It also made the sport accessible to interested people from all over the world - even if they don't have access to professional chess training.