How Gen Z sparked the chess boom after Covid

Before 2020, chess had a somewhat old-school, overly serious image, it was seen as a game mostly linked to clubs and hardcore competitors, and a bit distant from the daily interests of younger people.

Then came Covid. Practically overnight, everyone found themselves stuck at home, searching for activities that were both stimulating and easy to access. That’s when chess made its big comeback: simple to learn, strategically rich, and perfectly suited to online play. Millions of new games were being played every day on platforms like Chess.com.

In the fall of 2020, Netflix released The Queen’s Gambit and the phenomenon exploded. Suddenly, chess became visual, stylish, even glamorous. Streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube pushed it even further, with creators turning chess into real entertainment. The result? Chess became cool again, and Gen Z fully embraced it, transforming it into a genuine cultural symbol.

In this article, we’ll explore how Gen Z didn’t just follow the trend, they led it online first, then in person, turning chess into a social, creative, and inclusive experience like never before.

The chess boom during Covid

Lockdowns and the rise of online chess

Spring 2020. Overnight, half the planet was confined at home. No outings, no sports, no cultural events…everyone was looking for something engaging, social, and easy to do from their couch. Chess checked all the boxes: simple to learn, endlessly engaging, and easy to play remotely through platforms like Chess.com.

The result: a real explosion. On Chess.com, memberships jumped by more than 200% between January and June 2020. Highly active online communities sprang up, with millions of games played daily. For many, it was their first real encounter with the game.

Sources: Chess.com, Wikipedia (Online Chess).

The Queen’s Gambit, an unexpected catalyst

As if that weren’t enough, fall 2020 brought another spark: The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix. The series became a global sensation, watched by over 62 million households in its first month. It changed the perception of chess: suddenly, the game looked elegant, cinematic, even sexy.

The immediate impact was huge: chess set sales skyrocketed, and chess app downloads surged by over 60% worldwide within weeks. What started as a lockdown activity had turned into a full-blown cultural moment.

Sources: Netflix (2020 press release), The New York Times, Statista.

Twitch, YouTube, and the rise of chess streamers

Streaming platforms sealed the deal. On Twitch and YouTube, chess became pure entertainment. Big names like Hikaru Nakamura, the Botez sisters, and the PogChamps tournaments attracted millions of viewers. Games were analyzed, commented live, and turned into a mix of education and fun, even for those who barely knew the rules.

For many Gen Z viewers, that’s how the discovery happened: not by moving a pawn, but by watching charismatic streamers make chess funny, exciting, and relatable.

Sources: TwitchTracker, Chess.com News, Forbes.

In short: lockdowns sparked the trend, The Queen’s Gambit made it glamorous, and Twitch and YouTube turned it into global entertainment. In just a few months, chess became one of the world’s most popular games again. And at the center of this boom stood one generation in particular: Gen Z.

Gen Z at the heart of chess’s revival

A hyperconnected generation, first to catch the wave

Gen Z grew up with the internet, social media, and smartphones. Always curious to try new platforms and quick to adopt new digital spaces, they were far more receptive than older generations to the online chess boom. When Chess.com started gaining traction during lockdown, it was young people who dove in first, naturally at ease with online communities and fast digital engagement. Their digital fluency placed them at the front row of the global chess resurgence.

A creative generation turning chess into viral culture

Gen Z didn’t just play: they created, remixed, and reinvented. On TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter/X, thousands of memes, short videos, and parodies turned chess into a full-fledged cultural trend. Wild board positions, epic blunders, and hilarious streamer reactions became viral content shared by millions.

Creators started mixing blitz clips with rap battles (Drake vs Kendrick, Eminem vs MGK) or comparing flashy chess moves to iconic scenes from Game of Thrones or the Marvel universe. What used to feel rigid suddenly became fun, visual, and perfectly suited to short-form content and Gen Z humor.

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Spotlight: when chess goes viral

 • “Oh no, my queen!”: a line from Eric Rosen, American International Master and streamer, became a global meme, remixed thousands of times across TikTok and YouTube.

 • Fast blitz compilations, spectacular or funny chess moments edited to trending sounds, have pulled in millions of views and made chess feel exciting again.

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A generation craving real connection

Despite living online, Gen Z has also shown a strong desire for real-world connection. The pandemic made that clearer than ever: after years of social media and Zoom calls, many young people wanted authentic, in-person experiences again.

Chess offered the perfect bridge. After months of digital play, local meetups, café games, and park gatherings started to pop up. Groups first formed on Discord or Reddit began organizing IRL sessions, bringing communities together around real boards.

In short, Gen Z turned a digital hobby into a social experience, reconnecting people in the most human way possible: face-to-face, across a chessboard.

If chess has made such a comeback since 2020, it’s largely thanks to Gen Z. Hyperconnected, they were the first to join the online boom. Creative, they made chess viral. And socially driven, they brought it back to real life. Gen Z didn’t just ride the wave: they became the force that pushed chess into a new digital-meets-social era.

Why chess speaks so strongly to Gen Z

A game that’s both competitive and inclusive

Chess strikes the perfect balance between competition and accessibility. You can learn the basics in minutes, but mastering it takes a lifetime. That duality, simple yet infinitely deep, speaks to young players who love a challenge but value inclusivity.

The game has no physical, social, or cultural barriers either: you don’t need expensive gear, anyone can play anywhere, and it welcomes all ages, genders, and backgrounds. This openness mirrors the Gen Z mindset: inclusive, diverse, and community-oriented. Chess is both intellectually stimulating and socially welcoming, a rare mix that fits the generation perfectly.

An antidote to Covid isolation

Covid hit Gen Z at a crucial moment: high school, college, first jobs…and suddenly, everything stopped. Classes went online, social lives froze, and loneliness spiked. One study found that 61% of 18 to 25-year-olds reported feeling deeply isolated during the pandemic.

Chess offered a meaningful outlet: a shared activity that could bridge physical distance and mental fatigue. Online play helped maintain a sense of connection, while in-person meetups (in chess clubs, parks, or cafés) helped fill a social void once lockdowns were lifted.

For many, moving real pieces over a board wasn’t just “playing a game”, it was reconnecting, talking, laughing again. Chess became a simple, human antidote to isolation.

Source: Harvard Gazette.

A culture in tune with Gen Z’s aesthetic

Minimalist, visual, brainy cool: chess embodies an aesthetic that fits perfectly with Gen Z’s visual culture. Its black-and-white design, symbolic pieces, and intellectual vibe blend seamlessly into Instagram feeds and TikTok trends.

The game has even made its way into fashion and pop culture. Louis Vuitton’s 2022 campaign featuring Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo playing chess on a classic LV trunk went viral worldwide. In Black Is King (Beyoncé’s 2020 visual album on Disney+), a striking “living chess” sequence featured dancers embodying pieces in a theatrical, stylized setting. These moments cemented chess as an aesthetic icon, elegant, intelligent, and culturally resonant.

But chess isn’t just sophisticated: it’s also ironic and funny. On Twitter/X, viral posts use chess to comment on politics (“international relations explained in two images”) or relationships (“he plays chess while you’re still playing checkers”). The game has become a universal metaphor, a way to express ideas with humor and intellect.

Chess has become a shared generational code: it can be taken seriously to signal a kind of brainy cool identity, but it also works as a running joke in online conversations. This double face, elegant and cerebral on one side, laid-back and funny on the other, is exactly why the game resonates so strongly with under-30s.

So why does chess resonate so deeply with Gen Z? Because it combines everything this generation values: inclusivity, creativity, purpose, and playfulness. It’s competitive but welcoming, smart but funny. More than a game, chess has become a shared cultural identity, a space where thinking, connection, and creativity meet.

FAQ

Q1: Why did chess become popular again after Covid?

During the pandemic, millions looked for online activities that were both social and mentally engaging, and chess fit the bill perfectly. Chess.com and other online chess platforms exploded in popularity, The Queen’s Gambit made the game cinematic, and Twitch and YouTube turned it into entertainment. Together, they made chess one of the world’s favorite games again.

Q2: What role did Gen Z play in chess’s boom?

Gen Z was at the center of chess's boom. Hyperconnected, they were the first to jump on online platforms. Creative, they turned chess into memes, TikToks, and cultural moments. And post-pandemic, craving connection, they brought the game back to real-life chess clubs, parks, or cafés, transforming it from a pastime into a true community.

Q3: Will chess stay popular among younger generations?

All signs say yes. Chess aligns with Gen Z values: inclusivity, accessibility, creativity, and self-expression. It’s both digital and in-person, serious and fun. What started as a lockdown trend has become a long-term cultural movement.

Conclusion

Since 2020, chess has undergone a real renaissance. Online platforms, The Queen’s Gambit, and streaming creators have all attracted a new generation of players.

But Gen Z didn’t just follow, they amplified the trend, reinvented it, and made it last. From memes and viral videos to café meetups and chess-in-the-park sessions, they’ve made chess a bridge between digital life and real human connection.

The secret of this success? Chess fits Gen Z perfectly: inclusive, accessible, thought-provoking yet humorous. A rare blend of intellect and play.

Today, thanks to this generation’s energy, chess has grown far beyond the game itself — it’s now a global cultural symbol, powered by millions of young players around the world.

To dive deeper, check out our article The return of chess: more than a game, a social phenomenon.