Who is the BEST Chess Streamer?
Welcome, my dear readers, to this blog. I am sure you must follow chess on YouTube, Instagram, etc. In the vast and ever-expanding universe of online entertainment, a strange phenomenon has taken hold: chess streaming.
Because in the confused world of chess streaming, even the most disastrous blunders can be turned into comedic gold. Forget grandmaster titles and perfect openings, we are here to celebrate the streamers who make chess less like a nerdy sport and more like a glorious, digital circus with strategies and wisdom.
In this blog, we're not just ranking streamers, we're judging them on their chess ability, how they make us learn, and their followers and their entertaining quality. Let's go!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
But, first of all, what is Chess Streaming (for chess newbies)?
It's where grandmasters and grand-blunderers alike gather to play a board game invented before the internet, on the internet. Imagine watching someone think really hard, really fast, while occasionally making noises that sound like a dial-up modem connecting.
For the sake of the blog, we have taken four most popular chess streamers on the internet. They are GothamChess (IM Levy Rozman), GMHikaru (GM Hikaru Nakamura), BotezLive (WFM Alexandra Botez and Andrea Botez) and Anna Cramling(WFM Anna Cramling). We are going to rank and judge them(we are not calling any GMs or professionals for that, so, keep your hopes in your tiny pockets) by our unbiased ranking system.
We've got our super-powered rating system: Think of it as giving out gold stars, but instead of for spelling your name right, it's for crushing your opponent's king. We're judging them on three things: how brainy they are at chess (the "Strategic Side" stars), how many viewers are cheering them on (the "Follower Factor" stars), and how much they make us giggle (the "Entertainment Element" stars). Each streamer can earn up to five of these shiny stars ⭐ in each category.
Then, we will add them all up, and whoever has the most sparkly stars ⭐ wins the ultimate chess streamer crown! Basically, it's like a talent show, but with more checkmates and fewer singing cats.
Why is chess skill necessary for chess streamers? You wouldn't watch a clown teach brain surgery, right? Good chess is fun to watch, teaches smart lessons, and no facepalms from viewers. Blunders are funny, but not all the time. Skill keeps it real, keeps it exciting, and keeps those viewers clicking.
So, we have ranked our top four streamers according to their chess skill and have given them those bright stars ⭐ below:
1.GMHikaru (GM Hikaru Nakamura): ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The #2 best chess player in the world with a peak rating of 2816, he's like a chess ninja. His hands move so fast, you'd think he's teleporting the pieces. He's the guy who can solve a Rubik's Cube while playing speed chess... probably. He can pre-move 30 moves in the opening and predict his opponent's action of sitting comfortably on a chair to play chess as a blunder.
2.Gotham Chess (IM Levy Rozman): ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Levy reached his peak FIDE Elo rating of 2421 in 2018, while also earning the title of International Master. He's the chess professor who actually makes sense. He's like the wise wizard who can explain complex spells (or tactics) in a way that even a confused beginner can understand. But I am not sure if he will be able to become a GM before GTA VI.
3.Anna Cramling (WFM Anna Cramling): ⭐⭐⭐
Anna has a peak FIDE rating of 2175. She's the friendly chess fairy. She can play a solid game, but her real magic is making chess feel like a fun party, not a stressful exam.
4.BotezLive (WFM Alexandra Botez and Andrea Botez): ⭐⭐
Alexandra Botez reached her peak FIDE rating of 2092 in 2016 and currently holds the woman FIDE master title. Her sister, Andrea Botez's peak FIDE classical rating was 1773, achieved in 2018, and her peak USChess rating was 1933, achieved in 2019. They might make a few blunders, but they'll do it with style and a laugh. They're like the circus performers of the chess world – always a good show, even if the tightrope walk gets a little shaky.
Okay, let's tackle the "Follower Factor" and rank our streamers. Remember, this is about audience size and engagement, not chess skill. Here we go:
1.GothamChess (IM Levy Rozman): ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Levy has got 6.1 million subscribers on YouTube. Levy is like the Pied Piper of chess, but instead of rats, he's leading a group of eager chess learners. His YouTube channel is basically a digital chess classroom packed to the edge.
2.GMHikaru (GM Hikaru Nakamura): ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hikaru has got 2.47 million subscribers on YouTube. He's got more online fans than a cat video on a Friday night. His streams are like a rock concert, but with chess pieces instead of guitars. He's basically the online chess rockstar.
3.BotezLive (WFM Alexandra and Andrea Botez): ⭐⭐⭐
They have got 1.77 million subscribers on YouTube. They are the social butterflies of chess! Their streams are like a non-stop party, and everyone's invited. They've got more followers than a celebrity chef has the number of spices.
4.Anna Cramling (WFM Anna Cramling): ⭐⭐
Anna is like the friendly neighbor who always has a smile and a good chess tip. Her audience is growing fast, like a plant that was given super fertilizer.
Alright, let's dive into the "Entertainment Element". Who's the most fun to watch? We're looking at personality, jokes, and how much they keep you hooked. Let's go:
1.BotezLive (WFM Alexandra and Andrea Botez): ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
They're like your best friends who play chess, but mostly just make you laugh. It's a party, not a lecture. They're not afraid to laugh at their own blunders, and they'll drag you into the chaos with them. It's less about perfect chess and more about having a blast. They're the ones who'll convince you that chess can be a party game.
1.GothamChess (IM Levy Rozman): ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
He's the guy who teaches you chess, but also tells silly jokes. You actually learn something, and you don't fall asleep. He's the guy who makes you think, "Hey, maybe I can learn chess!". And don't forget "DA ROOOK!"
[Both GothamChess and Botez Live are same in the field of entertainment according to me. So, they both get ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.]
2.Anna Cramling (WFM Anna Cramling): ⭐⭐⭐
She's so happy, it's contagious! Watching her is like hanging out with someone who's always having a good time, and they just happen to play chess. It's like a virtual hangout with your most cheerful pal.
3.GMHikaru (GM Hikaru Nakamura): ⭐⭐
He's super serious about chess, but when he gets surprised or makes a mistake, his face is priceless. It's like watching a robot try to be human. You're waiting for the perfect move, and then you get a perfect reaction.
So, we have reached the moment everybody has been waiting for (I hope so). The chess dust has settled, the stars have been counted, and we've got a winner! It was a wild ride, like watching a bunch of chess wizards throw a party. Who came out on top? Let's find out, before I accidentally blunder my own imaginary queen.
But first we need to know in which category every streamer is best in :
So, after all the comparisons, the result is here. It was a tight race, but someone won! They proved that being good at chess, having fans, and being fun to watch is the winning combo. Here is the final leaderboard:
| CATEGORY | GM HIKARU | GOTHAMCHESS | BOTEZ LIVE | ANNA CRAMLING |
| STRATEGIC SIDE | 5⭐ | 4⭐ | 2⭐ | 3⭐ |
| FOLLOWER FACTOR | 4⭐ | 5⭐ | 3⭐ | 2⭐ |
| ENTERTAINMENT ELEMENT | 3⭐ | 5⭐ | 5⭐ | 4⭐ |
| TOTAL ⭐ | 12⭐ | 14⭐ | 10⭐ | 9⭐ |
So, according to the all the categories, the #1 Chess Streamer in the world is GothamChess (IM Levy Rozman)!
The final rankings are as follows:
1.GothamChess: With 14 stars, Levi Rozman takes the top spot.
2.GMHikaru: With 12 stars, Hikaru Nakamura is in second place.
3.BotezLive: With 10 stars, Alexandra and Andrea Botez are in third place.
4.Anna Cramling: With 9 stars, Anna Cramling is in fourth place.
So, there you have it, fellow readers! The ultimate, totally-not-controversial, absolutely-no-arguments-allowed ranking of chess streamers. We have proven that being a chess genius, a social media butterfly, and a comedian all rolled into one is the secret to streaming success. Or, you know, maybe it is just about having fun. And none of the streamers in the blog are good or bad, they are still the top four streamers in the chess community. Either way, next time you are feeling down about blundering a rook, just remember: even the best make mistakes. And if all else fails, just watch a chess stream. You might learn something, you might laugh, or you might just end up wondering why you spent three hours watching someone move tiny wooden pieces. But hey, that is the magic of chess streaming.
Thanks for joining me, and may your games be filled with more brilliants than blunders. If you have any favorite chess streamer, don't forget to tell in the comments.
Thanks for reading!
See you in the next blog. Till then goodbye, keep playing and stay happy!
