The Top 10 Chess Streamers in the World

Chess streaming in 2025 is bigger than ever. Casual fans, new learners, and hardened competitors all tune in to watch top players and personalities play, teach, and entertain live on Twitch, YouTube, and other platforms. Below is a friendly, up-to-date guide to the ten chess streamers who matter most right now, selected for their audience size, influence, and regular streaming activity. Where possible, I note the platform that made each person famous and why viewers love them.

1. GMHikaru (Hikaru Nakamura)

Hikaru is the biggest name in chess streaming. A former world speed chess champion and one of the fastest online players, Hikaru built a massive audience by combining elite-level play, fast blitz matches, and loud, engaging commentary. He streams regularly on Twitch and uploads highlights to YouTube, and his energy and speed make even complicated positions exciting for new viewers. Hikaru’s channel is frequently top of the chess category by viewers and followers.

2. BotezLive (Alexandra & Andrea Botez)

BotezLive is a duo channel run by sisters Alexandra and Andrea Botez. Their streams blend education, personality, and showmanship. Alexandra is known for her puzzle-solving and reaction-style content, while Andrea often leads fun challenges and entertainment segments. The Botez brand has proved successful at bringing young, casual viewers into chess via a more social and personality-driven approach.

3. GothamChess (Levy Rozman)

Levy Rozman, better known as GothamChess, is a master at teaching chess in plain language. He makes lessons and game analysis that are perfect for players who want to improve quickly. Levy’s style is warm, jokey, and sharply educational. He explains ideas you can use over the board. Over the years GothamChess has become one of the most-followed chess channels on Twitch and YouTube.

4. Agadmator (Antonio Radić)

Agadmator is a YouTube legend rather than a Twitch-native. Antonio Radić’s calm, story-driven game reviews make him the go-to channel for historical and modern game recaps. If you want to learn chess through famous games and detailed explanations, Agadmator’s long-form videos are perfect, and his subscriber count places him among the top chess personalities on the internet.

5. Chessbrah (Eric Hansen & Aman Hambleton)

The Chessbrah crew brought a fresh, irreverent attitude to chess streaming. Founded by Eric Hansen and Aman Hambleton (and joined by others), Chessbrah mixes high-level blitz, banter, and music/entertainment elements. They helped turn chess into a lifestyle brand, and their Twitch channel still attracts steady viewers with its party-like vibe.

6. Anna Cramling

Anna Cramling is an engaging, friendly personality who teaches and plays while keeping things light and approachable. She mixes coaching with viewer games and has a strong presence on Twitch and YouTube. Her streams are a great place for beginners and intermediate players who prefer a calm, welcoming host.

7. Anna Rudolf

Anna Rudolf is a veteran commentator and streamer. She’s known for clear, analytical game commentary and for being a professional voice at tournaments and online events. Anna’s mix of tournament experience and streaming skills makes her a reliable source for high-quality chess analysis and entertaining lessons.

8. IM Eric Rosen

Eric Rosen’s streams focus on practical teaching, instructive play, and a warm, patient presenting style. He plays online blitz, explains his thinking step-by-step, and often offers helpful mini-lessons inside his regular shows. Eric’s community is tight and welcoming, which explains his consistent popularity on Twitch.

9. Magnus Carlsen (when he streams)

Magnus Carlsen is, first and foremost, the best chess player of his generation. When Magnus decides to stream or appear on a channel, viewership spikes immediately. He does not stream as often as the full-time streamers on this list, but his influence is huge, and viewers get a masterclass whenever he plays live. Expect big attention whenever he goes online.

10. Alireza Firouzja

Alireza is one of the top young grandmasters and has started to appear on streaming platforms more often. His live games and training streams attract viewers who want to watch fresh, elite-level ideas and the quick tactical flair of a top prodigy. On Twitch charts, Alireza’s channel is regularly among the noticeable names for chess streaming.

Honorable Mention: Daniel Naroditsky

Daniel Naroditsky was a beloved streamer, teacher, and grandmaster whose mix of humor and deep insight won many fans. Sadly, he passed away in late 2025. His content and teaching left a strong mark on the chess community, and many viewers still watch his recorded videos and tribute streams. If you enjoyed his work, consider exploring his past recordings for short, high-quality lessons.

How I picked these ten

I prioritized streamers who (1) stream regularly, (2) have large followings across Twitch and YouTube, and (3) influence how people learn or watch chess today, whether by teaching, entertaining, or showcasing elite play. The chess streaming scene mixes pure entertainment (fast, social streams) with serious coaching and top-level demonstration. For data on viewership and platform rankings, I used recent streamer lists and Twitch analytics.

Which one should you watch first?

• If you want energy and elite blitz play: watch GMHikaru.
• If you like personality-driven, social streams: try BotezLive or Chessbrah.
• If you want steady, clear lessons: GothamChess, Anna Cramling, or Eric Rosen are excellent.
• For long-form game history and calmly explained masterpieces: Agadmator.