When it comes to popular board games that everyone enjoys, chess is one of the first names that pop up in people’s heads. According to Wikipedia, chess is a game of strategy that is played on a square chessboard, which consists of 64 squares arranged in an 8-by-8 grid. Also referred to as the “Game of Kings,” the board game is played and enjoyed by people of all ages.
It is an entertaining game that is very interesting to watch as well. It presents to the audience a mix of tension and thrill, which is one of the main reasons why millions of people around the globe love watching the game.
Multiple major chess tournaments are held throughout the year, where experienced players compete against one another to clinch the championship title and trophy. Besides this, the online versions of the game are immensely loved by the masses, which is why there are numerous platforms that facilitate interested individuals to indulge in games of chess online.
Enthusiasts can play chess with their friends or family members virtually. Besides this, they can also match up against skilled individuals from all around the globe and compete against them to enhance their chess skills.
Thanks to the immense popularity that the game enjoys, there are numerous creators on YouTube who stream chess games to entertain their audience. Here is a detailed look at some of the most popular chess streamers on YouTube:
Samay Raina
Samay Raina is one of the most popular and influential chess streamers on YouTube. Even though Samay Raina is not a professional chess player, he is one of the main reasons why chess gained such a massive fan following in India during the COVID-19 pandemic.
When the COVID pandemic led to a nationwide lockdown, Raina started streaming chess games with his friends. One of the main reasons why Raina’s chess streams gained a cult fan-following was because his streams consisted of fun-filled chess games where there was no monotony. Thanks to the chess streams, his YouTube Channel currently boasts of a whopping 150 million+ views.
Besides playing chess with fellow comedian friends, Raina has also invited and played with professional chess players, including world champion Magnus Carlsen, Anish Giri, Viswanathan Anand, Teimour Radjabov, etc.
Thanks to his streams, his audience gets to see the fun side of world-famous chess players. As per YouTube’s culture trends, chess-related content in India saw a tremendous rise of 220 percent after March 2020, and it is safe to say that Samay Raina’s streams contributed significantly to it.
One of Raina’s recent chess streams, titled “I Played Chess with 20 People Simultaneously,” has garnered over 350k+ views. Thus, it would not be wrong to say that Samay Raina’s YouTube Channel is continuing to popularize the online version of the game among the masses.
Sagar Shah
Another individual who regularly hosts chess streams on his YouTube channel is Sagar Shah. Sagar Shah is an International Master who has two GM norms. Besides being a chess player and a chartered accountant, he is also the co-founder of ChessBase India, the most popular chess platform in India.
His YouTube channel, also named ChessBase India, boasts of a massive subscriber count of approximately 940,000. His company and YouTube channel’s main motto is “Powering Chess in India.” Thanks to his frequent chess streams on his channel, its subscriber counts grew by almost 400,000 in a single year.
Along with his wife Amruta Mokal, who, for the record, is also an international master, Shah runs his chess-based platform and Youtube Channel. He believes that access to chess resources paired with entertainment and fun is why people love watching chess on YouTube. Shah is also Samay Raina’s trainer and is often seen playing together on live streams along with other popular chess personalities. One of the best parts about Shah’s chess streams is that it not only presents exciting chess matches but also offers viewers a chance to learn the game. He hosts most of his streams in Hindi, which is why they attain top-tier viewership.
Vidit Gujrathi
Another professional chess player who streams chess matches on his YouTube channel is Vidit Gujrathi. He is well known among the masses for attaining the title of Grandmaster in 2013. He has competed in multiple tournaments throughout the years and secured respectable ranks in the majority of them.
When it comes to rankings, he ranks 22nd in the world and 2nd in India. His YouTube channel boasts more than 230,000 subscribers, which is increasing steadily every day. He hosts approximately 15-20 chess streams every month with friends and professional players.
He is one of the most prominent chess streamers on YouTube who has significantly contributed to the popularity of the format and game.
Alexandra Botez
Alexandra Botez is a popular chess personality on YouTube whose chess-based channel “BotezLive” enjoys massive Indian viewership. She is a master, commentator, and popular streaming personality. Her channel has approximately 820,000+ subscribers, and the total views on her channel have surpassed the 1 billion mark.
She has been a part of many chess streams with other popular chess streamers and personalities like Samay Raina, Sagar Shah, Anish Giri, etc. Besides this, she has also played several matches against Magnus Carlsen, the #1 chess player in the world currently. She is popular among the masses for her excellent chess skills and appealing personality.
The popularity of chess is still on the rise, thanks to the hard work and consistency of the aforementioned YouTube chess streamers. Any enthusiast who wishes to improve at chess and learn more about the game can watch the streams of the streamers mentioned above to enhance their chess skills.