Sensemaker The battle for the heart of chess
Jan 30, 2026
A look at how the pandemic and a hit TV show supercharged online chess and streaming culture. Tensions flare between streaming personalities and the sport’s traditional establishment. Cheating scandals, high-profile disputes, and a community rift amplify debates about reputation and the future of the game.
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Pandemic And TV Fueled A Chess Surge
- The pandemic and The Queen's Gambit sparked a huge online chess boom that brought millions of new players.
- Chess.com memberships jumped from 35 million to over 200 million as streaming and interest exploded.
Naroditsky's Rise As Streaming Star
- Daniel Naroditsky rose from youth world champion to one of the most popular chess streamers with 800,000+ followers.
- He made a living from streaming and commentary in ways stronger than tournament earnings for many pros.
Online Play Created A Cheating Dilemma
- Online play widened chess's audience but also opened new cheating avenues via engines and algorithms.
- That tension fuelled distrust between traditional figures and internet-native players.
