It might be hard to believe at first, but chess, a traditionally intellectual game with a niche audience, has become a massive content phenomenon, racking up millions of views and reaching the mainstream. Chess-related content, including more casual and entertainment-driven formats, is in incredibly high demand.
Viewers eagerly watch everything from regular tournaments to in-depth game analyses, while younger audiences especially enjoy when chess is mixed with something more familiar to them, whether it’s unusual chess-boxing events (yes, that’s a thing!) or their favorite, not-so-intellectual streamer diving into the game, usually guaranteeing plenty of laughs.
Chess content is created by enthusiasts, professionals, and even FIDE Masters and International Masters. And sometimes, even those with the highest chess title, Grandmasters, step into the spotlight. Recently, as top chess players have started joining esports organizations in greater numbers, some of them will not only represent their teams as competitors but also as content creators.
Chess content can differ widely in both complexity and target audience, ranging from complete beginners to players with an Elo rating of 1200-1400, who are familiar with the nuances of castling and understand what En Passant is.
Grandmasters naturally fall into the second category, as their content is typically more intellectual. They often delve into the intricacies of chess that may seem unfathomable to beginners, offering deep strategic insights that challenge even experienced players. They analyze high-level games, explore advanced tactics and opening theory, break down complex positions, and demonstrate sophisticated endgame techniques. Additionally, they provide in-depth commentary on top-tier tournaments and famous chess games, explain the psychological aspects of high-stakes chess matches, and offer expert-level advice on improving one's chess skills and mastering difficult positions.
Now, let’s dive into the names of the grandmasters who were most active in live streaming from January to March 2025.
Hikaru Nakamura (Twitch, Kick)
It would be downright criminal to start a conversation about chess grandmaster streamers without mentioning Hikaru Nakamura first. A five-time U.S. Chess Champion and the reigning World Fischer Random Chess Champion, the 37-year-old Nakamura has been bringing chess to the masses on platforms like Twitch and YouTube since the mid-2010s.
Hikaru Nakamura's live content on Twitch and Kick is a dynamic blend of high-level chess gameplay and interactive streams. He regularly plays blitz and bullet games, often competing in online tournaments while engaging with his audience. His streams feature simultaneous games against multiple opponents, chess puzzles solving, tips and tricks to his viewers, and frequent collaborations with other streamers. His engaging and approachable style is what made him an entertainer for players of all levels, as he explains complex concepts in an easy-to-understand manner while keeping the atmosphere pretty relaxed and interactive.
In 2025, his biggest stream peaked at over 25,000 concurrent viewers, with his all-time high reaching an impressive 80,000+ concurrent viewers, a milestone that's tough to hit even in more viewer-friendly categories!
Magnus Carlsen (Twitch, YouTube)
Even the great and mighty Carlsen is no stranger to livestreaming — and, in fact, even to viral hot tub content... though with a chess twist. It’s no secret that Magnus Carlsen is generally quite outspoken, and from 2020 to 2023, after his company Play Magnus AS merged with the chess website chess24, he became a regular on Twitch, with both his serious and more laid-back content drawing in tens of thousands of viewers.
Since then, Magnus has mostly stopped streaming on his own, but he hasn't completely stepped away from the scene. He now boasts a popular YouTube channel, although it's primarily managed by others. On his personal channel, you'll frequently find streams of the chess tournaments he's competing in, often accompanied by commentary from prominent figures in the chess world, including well-known content creators.
In 2025, his most popular stream peaked at over 14,000 concurrent viewers, which took place during the semifinals of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour against German player Vincent Keymer. Interestingly, Magnus recently returned to streaming on his Twitch channel too! Could we be seeing more informal content from him, which tends to resonate well with viewers?
Eric Hansen & Aman Hambleton (Twitch, Kick)
While Canadian grandmasters Eric Hansen and Aman Hambleton may not be as well-known for their global chess achievements, they have certainly made a name for themselves in the world of live streaming. As the creators of Chessbrah, one of the most popular chess channels on both Twitch and Kick, they’ve become key figures in the online chess community.
The "Chessbrah" channels feature a variety of content, including live streams with guest appearances from other titled players such as Magnus Carlsen, Yasser Seirawan, and Aryan Tari. The channel regularly showcases both serious and informal chess content, with highlights often posted later on YouTube.
As of early 2025, their Twitch channel ranks second in total watch time among individual streamers, trailing only Hikaru Nakamura. When considering just Twitch, the only channels ahead of them are the official Chess24 and Chess.com channels, which broadcast the most popular tournaments.
Daniel Naroditsky (Twitch, YouTube)
Daniel Naroditsky, a Grandmaster since 2013, has earned recognition not only for his impressive chess performances but also as a charismatic content creator. On Twitch and YouTube, his engaging streams and insightful commentary have garnered a dedicated following.
In 2024, he gained additional attention after being accused of cheating by Vladimir Kramnik. Despite the controversy, Naroditsky received overwhelming support from the chess community, including a strong backing from Hikaru Nakamura. This only boosted his profile, and today, he is the host of one of the leading personal channels run by a Grandmaster in the world of chess livestreaming.
According to current live viewership stats for chess streaming channels, he is just shy of breaking into the top 10, while among individual creators, he confidently holds the fifth spot.
Jan Gustafsson (Twitch, YouTube)
Grandmaster Jan Gustafsson is not only one of the top chess content creators and the most popular German-speaking chess streamer but also one of the most respected figures in the chess world generally. Beyond his work as an analyst, coach, broadcaster and commentator, he’s also the co-founder of the widely popular chess platform Chess24.com.
Gustafsson began livestreaming in late 2020 and quickly found his footing on Twitch, where he remains an active and consistent streamer. His peak popularity came during the 2020-2022 boom (as was the case for many chess influencers), but he still draws a steady audience of several hundred viewers, occasionally reaching into the thousands.
His consistency has kept him among the top 30 chess channels this year. Among Grandmasters, he holds a solid spot in the top 10, a position he’s unlikely to relinquish anytime soon.
… and many, many more!
The chess streaming scene isn’t just dominated by Grandmasters. While there are dozens, if not hundreds, of them, many other players have built equally strong communities and can even outshine the highest-level players in viewer engagement.
Few embody this better than sisters Alexandra and Andrea Botez, arguably the most famous female chess streamers, boasting millions of followers across Twitch and YouTube.
Another standout is Woman FIDE Master Anna Cramling, who gained recognition during the pandemic and has since become a major presence in the streaming world. In 2024, she solidified her status by winning the prestigious “Best Strategy Game Streamer” award at The Streamer Awards.
And, of course, no discussion of chess streaming would be complete without mentioning Levy Rozman, better known as GothamChess. Despite not holding the Grandmaster title (at least not yet), he’s amassed 6 million YouTube followers and billions of views across his chess content, including livestreams.
As we learned, chess grandmasters are quite popular in content creation field. But how did the worlds of elite chess and mass-oriented content creation collide?
Chess goes mainstream: from lockdowns and The Queen's Gambit to Esports World Cup
For some, the pandemic was the best time of their lives; for others, the worst. While being stuck within four walls felt like a prison to some, for others, it was an opportunity to explore something new. It was thanks to this second group that chess broke into the mainstream just a few years ago. Platforms like Chess.com saw explosive growth: its user base doubled between 2020 and 2022, reaching an incredible 17 million players. As we know, demand creates supply. So, it didn’t take long for the number of chess-related content creators to rise in response to this surge in interest.
The second, and arguably more significant, factor was the release of the hit Netflix series The Queen’s Gambit, which dropped just as the global lockdowns were starting. The show brought chess into the spotlight, not just for casual enthusiasts, but also for those who had little to no interest in it before. For many, the mesmerizing allure of the ancient game only became apparent after they followed the intriguing journey of Beth Harmon, portrayed by the talented Anya Taylor-Joy.
As a result, chess went mainstream. Audiences grew not just on chess platforms, but also in the consumption of chess-related video content, from pre-recorded videos to live streams. The number of channels skyrocketed, and the content became incredibly diverse, ranging from beginner-friendly material to professional-level games. There was even content tailored to kids and teens, who would probably only find chess interesting if it featured their favorite streamer or if the competitors started boxing each other in the ring during the match.
The content creation potential of chess became evident very quickly, and it didn't escape the attention of major players in the livestreaming industry. Esports organizations played a key role in this shift, as they not only focused on competitive gaming but also expanded into the broader content creation space. Signing chess streamers became a sort of mainstream trend between 2020 and 2022.
Over time, the initial chess hype faded, and its rapid growth slowed, but the pivotal shift had already taken place: chess became an established part of the content creation industry. While most grandmasters previously struggled to make a living from the game, today, the most charismatic players can earn a substantial income, competing in tournaments and entertaining hundreds, sometimes even thousands, of live viewers.
Also read: Why are esports organizations signing chess players in 2025?
A new phase in the relationship between chess and livestreaming/esports began in 2025, when chess was added as a discipline in the year’s biggest gaming event, the Esports World Cup. With chess now among the featured games, esports organizations began to see a need for chess players not just as streamers, but also as competitors.
Ding Liren, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana, and even the legendary Magnus Carlsen... All these and many other players are now not only top-tier chess grandmasters and representatives of their national federations, but also part of lesser-known entities in the chess world: esports teams, such as Team Falcons, Team Liquid and LGD Gaming.
Chess is now a major player in the content creation industry, particularly in live streaming. The demand for this content remains high, and whereas 4-5 years ago the niche was, if not empty, at least dominated by just one or two prominent names, now hundreds of creators are on the scene, and many of them highly skilled professionals.
Chess has fully cemented its place in the world of content creation, and in 2025, the game’s top Grandmasters are not just excelling in tournaments but also captivating audiences through livestreaming. Check out live YouTube stats for chess and more categories. Whether it's Hikaru Nakamura's high-energy blitz battles, Magnus Carlsen’s sporadic but always-entertaining appearances, or the Chessbrah crew’s mix of serious play and lighthearted fun, there’s no shortage of engaging chess content to enjoy. As esports organizations continue to invest in chess talent, it’s clear that streaming is no longer just a side pursuit for elite players, it’s an integral part of the modern chess ecosystem, bringing the game to new audiences and ensuring its lasting mainstream appeal.
