Online chess just pulled a queen’s gambit of its own — Chess.com has officially surpassed 200 million members, and it’s showing no signs of slowing down as it approaches its 20th birthday.
Let’s break this down for the average human who might still be traumatized by that one time they played chess against their uncle and lost in five moves: Chess.com is the place for playing, watching, and learning chess online. Founded in 2005 and launched in 2007 (shoutout to MySpace-era internet), this platform has grown from a cozy corner for chess nerds to a digital empire where over 20 million games are played every single day. That’s right. Every. Day.
And it’s not just free-loading pawns. Around 1.5 million of those members are paying subscribers, supporting a suite of premium features that take you from “What’s en passant?” to “Bow before my Sicilian Defense.”
So… Why Is Chess Blowing Up?
According to Albert Cheng, Chess.com’s Chief Growth Officer (and former growth wizard at Grammarly and Duolingo), the game’s 1,500-year-old legacy isn’t going anywhere — in fact, it’s thriving.
“Chess has this timeless durability,” Cheng told Wp-dd.com. “It’s ancient, but also super dynamic.” Translation: it’s like your grandma’s vintage coat — classic, but still somehow trendy.
Over the years, Chess.com has evolved from a simple forum into a one-stop chess shop, offering:
– Real-time matches (vs humans or bots 👾)
– Daily games and tricky puzzles
– AI-powered game reviews (yes, AI’s here too)
– News and updates from the chess world
– Live-streamed tournaments
– And yes, even memes sometimes
One of the standout innovations was the launch of an AI-powered game review tool in 2021, which analyzes your matches and politely tells you all the ways you could’ve avoided embarrassing yourself.
Cheng says most new users are total beginners, which is great news — it means the chess world is growing from the ground up. And Chess.com is making sure the platform stays friendly, accessible, and just challenging enough to keep people hooked.
Pandemic Boredom + Netflix = The Chess Renaissance
Like sourdough bread and TikTok dances, chess saw a major surge during the pandemic. People were stuck indoors and needed something to do besides stare at their walls. Chess.com had to seriously upgrade its servers to keep up with the checkmating frenzy.
And then came the Netflix series “The Queen’s Gambit” in 2020, a stylish drama that somehow made chess look sexy and mysterious. The result? A whole new generation of players started logging in.
Then there was the spicy Magnus Carlsen cheating scandal in 2022, which added a dash of drama to the game (because apparently, even in chess, there’s tea 🍵). And coming up this year? Competitive chess will join the Esports World Cup for the very first time. Yup — chess is officially entering the chat with the big gaming leagues.
Chess Goes Global 🌍
Chess.com’s growth isn’t just a U.S. thing. In fact, around 85% of new users are from outside the United States. The current World Chess Champion, Gukesh Dommaraju, is from India — proving that chess truly is a global obsession.
And the game is now popping up in the wildest places. Cheng mentioned how F1 legends Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc recently battled it out online — because why not throw chess into the mix with high-speed car racing?
What’s Next for Chess.com?
According to Cheng, the sky’s the limit. Whether it’s casual players discovering the game through TikTok, pro-level competitors streaming their strategies on Twitch, or celebrities randomly showing off their skills, Chess.com is riding the wave of a cultural chess boom.
“We’d be foolish not to keep exploring all this organic interest,” he said. In other words: more collabs, more innovation, and probably more bots that can still crush you in five moves.
TL;DR:
Chess.com just hit 200 million users. It’s more popular than ever, thanks to AI tools, global interest, spicy scandals, and Netflix. Whether you’re a grandmaster or just Googled “how to move a knight,” now’s a great time to get on board. 🧠♟️
Checkmate! Chess.com Hits 200 Million Members and Is Still Going Strong
