Latest news with #GothamChess
News18
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Celebrating Chess: The Ancient Indian Game Thriving In The Digital Era
The global success of the Netflix series The Queen's Gambit, coupled with the rapid growth of chess streamers on platforms like Twitch, and YouTube, has propelled chess into mainstream pop culture. Tournament series such as PogChamps, launched by in 2020, introduced chess to millions by featuring popular streamers and celebrities, each mentored by elite Grandmasters. Leading streaming personalities like Levy Rozman, known as GothamChess, and the Botez sisters, Alexandra and Andrea, have built massive followings on both Twitch and YouTube. Their accessible, educational, and entertaining style has made chess more engaging and relatable to younger audiences. Since then, online chess has seen explosive growth. In 2024 alone, recorded over 7.6 billion games played. The platform has surpassed 200 million registered users globally, with India contributing over 9 million monthly active players and adding an average of 550,000 new signups each month. Beyond gameplay, viewership numbers have soared, with chess amassing 925 million organic views this year, reflecting an incredible 640 percent year-on-year growth. With its easy-to-play format and accessibility anytime, anywhere, chess has cemented itself as a universal sport for the digital generation. This digital success naturally extended into the competitive esports world. The chess esports revolution accelerated in 2020 when world-renowned Grandmasters such as Qiyu Zhou, Hikaru Nakamura, and Andrew Tang joined established esports organizations like Counter Logic Gaming, Team SoloMid (TSM), and Cloud9 respectively, blending the traditions of chess with the excitement of competitive gaming. The momentum continued when the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and included chess in the inaugural Olympic Esports Week in 2023 in Singapore. This evolution reached a landmark moment with chess officially becoming part of the prestigious Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025 in Riyadh, with Norwegian legend Magnus Carlsen serving as the tournament's ambassador. Organized in partnership with this year's EWC features a prize pool of $1.5 million, bringing together the world's top chess players to compete in the fast-paced 10+0 rapid format, while representing leading esports organizations from across the globe. Indian chess is making its presence felt on this grand stage. Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi, signed with global esports organization Gen.G, has already secured his place at EWC 2025 through the Champions Chess Tour. The final four spots will be decided through the Last Chance Qualifier from July 24 to 26, where top Indian players, including Grandmasters Nihal Sarin and Aravindh Chithambaram, will compete. Both Nihal and Aravindh have joined S8UL, a global powerhouse in esports and gaming content, to compete at EWC 2025. S8UL is the only Indian organization selected among the 40 elite global teams in the Esports World Cup Foundation's (EWCF) Club Partner Program. The organisation has earned its place to compete among the world's best in Apex Legends and EAFC, and will also be fighting for qualification in Tekken 8 through the Last Chance Qualifier, further expanding its presence across multiple esports titles. 'It's incredible to watch chess evolve from a quiet, traditional sport into a bold, global movement," said Sarin. 'Being part of S8UL has introduced me to the world of esports and content creation, opening up new ways to connect with people. Today, chess isn't just about strategy, it's about storytelling, culture, and community," the GM continued. 'I'm proud to be part of this exciting shift, as the game steps into a whole new era." Advertisement The chess esports revolution in India is also being championed by NODWIN Gaming, a leader in South Asia's esports and gaming ecosystem. The company recently announced a strategic partnership with and ChessBase India aimed at building the future of chess esports in the country. This collaboration has already delivered remarkable success, most notably with the exclusive streaming of the recent World Chess Championship, where India's Gukesh Dommaraju defeated Ding Liren to become the World Chess Champion. The event garnered over 24 million views, with peak concurrent viewership reaching 200,000. Co-founder and MD of NODWIN Gaming, Akshat Rathee, opined that 'The rise of online chess shows how even the most traditional games can reinvent themselves in a digital-first world. Chess has always stood for intellect and discipline, but with streaming, new formats, and structured esports competitions, it's now more accessible and entertaining than ever, especially for younger audiences." Over the years, NODWIN Gaming has consistently driven the mainstream growth of chess through innovative initiatives. The Chess Super League in 2021 brought together a unique mix of top international Grandmasters, leading Indian Grandmasters, International Masters, and promising junior players, offering fans a fresh, competitive, and entertaining viewing experience. Chess has also featured prominently at DreamHack Hyderabad, India's largest gaming festival, further reinforcing its place within the broader gaming and esports ecosystem. advetisement
Time of India
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
GothamChess addresses viral drama over Emil Sutovsky's tweet: 'It should change.. now I look like an egocentric idiot'
(Image via YouTube/GothamChess) A major controversy in the chess community has sparked discussions this week, putting International Master Levy Rozman in hot water after he made a comment about his fame. It further escalated when Emil Sutovsky, FIDE CEO, weighed in, leading to a feud. The entire drama involved perceptions of players' fame in the game and online creators' influence. Rozman now has stepped forward with the pointed response, clarifying his stance on this escalating situation. GothamChess claims misrepresentation of the post, calling it out of context Levy Rozman has finally addressed the ongoing drama which was ignited after a critical tweet by Emil Sutovsky. It's asserted by him that his non-controversial statement that was made on the global chess recognition was ripped from its original context, leading to a widespread misinterpretation. "This image and quote is quite out of context, which is annoying, but understandable," Rozman stated as he expressed his frustration at how his words got spread online. GothamChess further clarified his intention, which was not self-aggrandizement. He explained, "My quote was a reference to... speaking to an athlete (casual chess fan) who could only name myself, Magnus, and Hikaru as chess." My Response To The Allegations The International Master further emphasized he was trying to highlight a problem. He said, "I was simply making the point that it's unfortunate if someone can only name us 3 as chess players, and it should change. But of course, now I look like an egocentric idiot." He conceded this label might at times fit, but he argued it was definitely undeserved in the instance. Discussing the original comment that sparked the entire drama 'That's Not My Fault' – GothamChess Fires Back in Chess Drama! The ongoing controversy can be traced back to the interview Rozman gave during one of his recent European tours. An individual reportedly expressed difficulty following up professional chess and claimed familiarity with only 3 figures worldwide: Magnus Carlsen Hikaru Nakamura, and Levy Rozman Rozman presented the anecdote not as a boast but as evidence of some significant accessibility gap that exists within chess. The core argument of the player, before the quote gained traction, was actually centered on the struggle of the game to promote a diverse array of top players to a mainstream audience, much beyond dedicated fans. He even saw the limitation within recognition as a barrier to a player's broad growth. Emil Sutovsky challenged the streamer's perfection and influence The drama escalated when Emil Sutovsky, the CEO of the global governing body of chess, shared Rozman's isolated quote on social media. Posting the image, he questioned the fans, "Do you agree with that? I don't - but maybe that's because my bubble consists of hardcore chess fans." He even directly critiqued Rozman's viewpoint as "extremely US-centric," reflecting regional bias. Further, Sutovsky even cast doubt on YouTubers' and chess streamers' current impact, suggesting their significance has decreased compared to the previous years. He stated, " I also feel, that in general streamers/youtubers impact on the game is much less significant than it used to be few years ago," acknowledging he "might err." His comments prompted a flood of reactions, debating chess popularity's true drivers today. Chess Community reacts to Emil Sutovsky's stance Sutovsky doubled down in the follow-up tweet that quite subtly compared Rozman to Sagar Shah (ChessBase India), suggesting that Shah's content creates "hardcore chess fans" and not just some casual viewers. It further sparked more debates on whether chess's popularity should be measured by the mass appeal or its dedicated engagement. Rozman did fire back and defended content creators and their roles within growing chess. He argued that without any accessible figures, including himself, there would be many fans who would not engage with the game at all. On the other hand, Shah took a diplomatic stance, praising creators and FIDE for pushing the game of chess forward. The entire drama highlights a very deep divide between whether or not chess requires mainstream influencers or any traditional ambassadors to thrive. For now, the debate is still raging without any resolution. But hopefully, it will soon come to an end. Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
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First Post
02-05-2025
- Sport
- First Post
Chess world set for mega India vs USA clash as Gukesh-Nakamura face-off confirmed
The sport of chess is growing rapidly in terms of coverage and fandom, with India and the USA at the forefront of this global surge. Their top players — including D Gukesh and Hikaru Nakamura — will face off in a unique competition this October. Here's all you need to know. read more Checkmate: USA vs India will take place on 4 October at the Esports Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Image: FIDE Two chess powerhouses – India and the USA – will clash at the Esports Stadium in Arlington, Texas, in a unique five-board match in October this year. The upcoming event, which is named Checkmate: USA vs India, will see chess world champion D Gukesh take on America's No.1 Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura, while Arjun Erigaisi will face world No.5 Fabiano Caruana. The uniqueness of the chess tournament, which will take place on 4 October, can be gauged from the fact that it will also include matches between players who are some of the biggest chess streamers in the world. For example, Levy Rozman also known as GothamChess, will take on Sagar Shah, who runs ChessBase India. International Master Rozman has over 6 million subscribers on his YouTube Channel, while ChessBase India has over 2.62 million subscribers. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Checkmate: USA vs India tournament will also feature some of the biggest female players from the two countries, as 21-year-old Carissa Yip takes on Divya Deshmukh (19). Another big attraction in the competition will be the fight between young chess talents, like the match between eight-year-old chess prodigy Tanitoluwa Adewumi and 14-year-old Ethan Vaz of India. Five boards for Checkmate: USA vs India Hikaru Nakamura (USA) vs D Gukesh (India) Fabiano Caruana (USA) vs Arjun Erigaisi (India) Levy Rozman (USA) vs Sagar Shah (India) Carissa Yip (USA) vs Divya Deshmukh (India) Tanitoluwa Adewumi (USA) vs Ethan Vaz (India) The organisers are hoping that at least 2,500 spectators will turnup at the Esports Stadium for the competition to see matches between world champion Gukesh and Nakamura and other chess stars. World No.2 Nakamura feels such an event will be a big boost towards raising the profile of chess. 'This is the kind of event that elevates chess to the next level,' Nakamura, said. 'India has become one of the most exciting forces in global chess, and I'm thrilled to take them on in front of a live crowd here in the US We want to show the world that America is home to some of the best players in the game—and that chess can be as thrilling and competitive as any major sport.' The oragnisers of the event, Checkmate Strategic Ventures, have said that a second leg will also take place in India soon. Checkmate: USA vs India: Format Team USA will have the white board advantage in all matches as they are the home team. India are expected to have the white boards in the second leg. The USA vs India match will consist of five rounds. They will be played sequentially, one board at a time. Time control: Regular Game: 10 minutes per player If draw, Overtime Game: 5 minutes per player STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD If draw, Shootout Game: 1 minute per player If drawn, additional 1 min per player games until winner emerges No prize money has been declared so far and the tickets went live on on 1 May.
