Technology's Unexpected Revival of Chess as a Global Social Network

Commentary: How Technology Revitalized Chess as an International Social Network

When IBM's Deep Blue computer defeated world chess champion Garry Kasparov in 1997, some foresaw the demise not only of the ancient sport but also of intellect. Newsweek portrayed this contest between a calculating and the globe's strongest player as The Brn's Last Stand. The magazine even opined that Kasparov was rooting for his Russian opponent to win because many s feared their jobs would be supplanted by computers.

However, technology's impact on chess has proven the opposite. Instead of being extinguished, the sport has thrived in this digital era, fueling increasing accessibility. As John Thornhill of the Financial Times notes, Chess has never been more alive than now.

Thornhill references the stunning match where Chinese Grandmaster Ding Liren triumphed over Russian opponent Ian Nepomniachtchi on April 30, which was followed by a wave of acclm from fans and commentators alike. The Chess.com website, which offered live commentary of the tournament's gripping 18-game match, boasts more than 100 million registered users after growing exponentially over the past fifteen years. Thornhill notes that this level of popularity led to an unprecedented scenario where Chess.com crashed due to a staggering influx of players-more than ten million logging on for one day.

Several factors have been credited with boosting chess's resurgence in popularity:

• The 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, which saw millions of bored individuals turn towards online entertnment as the pandemic confined them indoors.

• The smash-hit television series The Queen's Gambit was released on Netflix in 2020 and became one of its most-watched shows worldwide. This series not only enthralled audiences but also sparked a new interest in chess, especially among young viewers who saw compelling stories of chess masters like Beth Harmon.

• The signing by forty-four Russian chess players, including Nepomniachtchi himself, to publicly oppose the invasion of Ukrne last year demonstrates the sport's ability to engage with social issues.

The game has also attracted a fresh crop of talented teenage challengers, some as young as thirteen years old who have already proven themselves on the international stage.

Diving deeper into this discussion, Thornhill emphasizes chess as an emblematic case study for how technology can transform and renew traditional pursuits rather than merely threaten them. Just as Deep Blue's triumph in defeating Kasparov symbolized a new era of - collaboration that would foster connections and innovative capabilities across various sectors, it also hinted at the potential for s to embracenot just as a rival but as a co-creator in the realm of intellectual pursuits.

In , chess offers valuable lessons on how technology's impact can be harnessed to redefine traditional activities rather than replace them. The chess community has demonstrated that embracing technological advancements does not mean sacrificing ingenuity and creativity; instead, it might fuel new opportunities for skill development, connection, and innovation in the digital age.

John Thornhill is a founder of Sifted, an FT-backed platform focused on European start-ups.

Source: Financial Timesaj
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