Chess fever sweeps the Nordics as players go from niche hobbyists to global stars

The once-niche world of chess has exploded in popularity, with player numbers surging and online matches drawing hundreds of thousands of viewers, Swedish public broadcaster SVT Nyheter reports.

According to chess expert and international master Jesper Hall, the pandemic marked a turning point. “After the lockdowns, interest just exploded and keeps growing every day,” he said. Online platform Chess.com now claims 250 million users worldwide—up from 35 million at the start of 2020.

The new wave of players differs sharply from traditional enthusiasts, Hall explained. “In classic chess clubs, you learn strategy, fundamentals, the works. But these players are more self-taught—they play for fun, not to train relentlessly and dominate.”

Hall, who has coached world champion Magnus Carlsen, is organizing this weekend’s “Chess Party” event at Stockholm’s Avicii Arena. The goal is to bridge the gap between old-school and modern players. “I think this evolution will keep going—people are playing chess in ways we never imagined,” he said. “The last decade has been an eye-opener for me about how chess can be more than just a sport or a game.”