From GothamChess screaming “THE ROOK” after a sacrifice, to some random kid playing chess when they are supposed to be paying attention in class, chess has had a resurgence in today’s culture. Chess, what formerly used to be a dying game, rendered completely archaic, reserved for nerds, has turned into one of the most popular games at CHS, spiking in popularity at the start of 2023.
When looking up chess on YouTube, the most popular result is International Master Levy Rozman, more well-known as GothamChess. GothamChess has played a large role in popularizing chess with millions of views and popular series such as “Guess the ELO,”where he tries to guess how good the player is, “How to Lose at Chess,” and “Catching Cheaters.” One moment that certainly helped was with his iconic catchphrase “THE ROOK,” with the original video garnering over 12 million views on YouTube. Another important creator is Hikaru Nakamura, a chess Grandmaster known for his complex calculations. His charismatic personality and chess pedigree solidified him as one of the top chess streamers on the internet. There are many other large creators that play chess such as Ludwig, XQc, and more infamously, Andrew Tate.
Another factor is the playability of chess. Chess, unlike many other games, is simple to learn. In fact, chess.com provides lots of resources for new players to learn and grow at the game, such as puzzles, videos, etc. Additionally, there are other websites to learn about chess, such as lichess.com, where you can play live games.
Playability, availability, and the charismatic personalities of chess creators have catapulted the game into mainstream, leading millions to enjoy the true beauty of chess.