For hundreds of years, the game of chess has been a beloved pastime, and it remains a widely-played strategy game today and has welcomed both the online realm and ai engines with open arms. This has made the game far more in-depth and advanced than it was in the past.
The past five years have seen somewhat of an explosion in the chess scene. The game is bigger now than perhaps ever before in its long history. This surge can be attributed to several different factors and events that have occurred during this time period.
The most significant of these factors is the increased online activities around the chess sphere. Online chess platforms such as Chess24, Lichess and Chess.com have increased the range of offerings and features on their respective platforms making the game all the more attractive for first-timers to set out on their journey into the game.
Many outsiders were captivated and subsequently roped into buying their own chess boards after the popular series ‘The Queens Gambit’ was released on Netflix. The series brought a whole new set of eyes to the game and its glamourous portrayal of the game saw a substantial spike in the number of players playing across some of the aforementioned platforms.
The world of competitive chess has also gotten substantially more competitive with the emergence of some promising youthful chess prodigies, the continued dominance of the world's greatest player and the ever-growing tournament prize pools and sponsorships that bring so many opportunities along with it.

The amount of informative, educational and entertaining content that is created on the game of chess has also seen a steep incline of late. Nowadays chess competes with some of the biggest gaming channels on live streaming platforms such as Twitch.
The Chess YouTube scene is also bringing so many new players to the game with channels such as GothamChess, Eric Rozman, Anna Cramling, Magnus Carlsen and Chess 24 providing their own distinct style and formats for their viewers' enjoyment.
It is a game that requires intense concentration and opportunities for creativity at crucial moments. The world of chess has many grandmasters who have dedicated themselves to the game. This article will delve into their lives, the path taken to gain the title, and the future outlook of grandmasters in the next four years and beyond.
Chess grandmasters are the best of the best in the world of chess. Achieving the grandmaster level in chess requires intense dedication and hard work. How many chess grandmasters are there? Currently, more than 1600 grandmasters exist worldwide, the majority of whom are in Europe and Asia.
Those that have achieved the grandmaster title in chess are some of the most renowned and respected players in the game. They have dedicated themselves to perfecting their skills and have become famous names in chess.
Familiarising yourself with the different features across various chess apps will help you to find one that suits your needs.
The Rise of Magnus Carlsen and his journey to Becoming a Grandmaster
At the moment, Magnus Carlsen is the most well-known grandmaster actively playing the game. When he was only 13, he was awarded the grandmaster title - making him the third youngest to achieve this status in history. He is admired for his attacking tactics and his ability to win games even when the situation seemed unfavourable. He burst onto the scene in his youth and earned a commendable draw against Gry Kasporav, the world number one at the time.
Magnus has since obtained the highest ranking ever achieved by a chess player and has a habit of salvaging wins out of the most complex positions in the late game. Many would argue that there is certainly a significant gap between the Norwegian and the rest of the names featured on this list, and they would be right!
Carlsen has a laid-back approach to the competitive chess scene and has surfaced in some of the recent scandals that have rocked the chess world. Magnus chose not to defend his title as World champion in the classical potion of the game this year which many have speculated was to his belief that the competition was not worthy as he had beaten both finals candidates many times.
Carlsen also accused young American player Hanz Neiman of cheating in 2022, a claim which has now resulted in a lawsuit. Despite many grandmasters, including some of those who feature on this list backing the world number 1’s claims Neiman's case is still being fought to this day.
It is important to incorporate a mix of advanced resources into your learning if you are looking to become a well-rounded chess player.

Ding Liren's story of becoming a world-class grandmaster
At age 16, Ding Liren was awarded the title of grandmaster and has since gained international recognition for his excellence in the game. Renowned for his tactical acumen and ability to outsmart opponents, Ding Liren has become a formidable force in the chess world.
Ding's most recent accomplishment becoming the world champion in classical chess was accomplished by defeating Ian Napomniachtchi after Carlson decided not to defend the title.
By looking at the list of grandmasters you will be left more than inspired to take your training to the next level.
Hikaru Nakamura's Impact on the Game
American grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura has had a major impact on the game of chess. Achieving the title of grandmaster at 15, he has succeeded in obtaining a multitude of championships and has gained a reputation for being one of the most proficient players globally.
Nakamura is certainly an interesting grandmaster as he is perhaps the strongest player under short time constraints. Nonetheless, despite the grandmaster’s dominance on the competitive chess scene, he is still perhaps better known as the biggest streamer in chess.
Hhikaru has said that he considers himself a chess streamer before a competitive player, a massive statement from a player who has shuffled around the top five spots throughout the past decade. His audience on Twitch is ever-expanding and he has certainly asserted himself as one of the best ambassadors for chess.
Ian Nepomniachtchi becoming the 20th World Chess Champion
Ian Nepomniachtchi, a Russian grandmaster, recently suffered a defeat to ding line in the world championship for classical chess. The pair battled it out on chess's biggest stage after the reigning champion decided not to defend his title.
He achieved the title of grandmaster at age 17 and since then has notched up a substantial amount of championship wins, placing him among the elite in chess.
Nepomniachtchi is known for his strong analytical skills and his ability to find the best moves in complex positions.
You will need to keep an eye out for opportunities to deploy some of your chess tactics throughout your games.

How to Become a chess grandmaster - Requirements and Tips
Gaining the title of chess grandmaster is a challenge that needs many years of hard work and devotion. To reach the rank, competitors must fulfil certain criteria, such as achieving a high rating, winning tournaments, and getting particular titles. Those wishing to become grandmasters should also study the game and learn from the top players in the world.
The prospects for chess grandmasters in the coming years are bright as the game is ever-growing in popularity and there are lots of online resources available to improve skill. Moreover, we can anticipate new technologies and breakthroughs which will transform the way we approach and understand the game.
You should be ambitious when you are setting yourself targets to accomplish throughout your playing. You will be able to give your rating to a chess coach so that they can provide exercise of a suitable difficulty, ensuring that you accomplish what you set out at the beginning of your chess tutoring sessions.
Goal setting is extremely important in chess and it will give you something to work towards with your sessions. Set goals for your gameplay, such as reaching a certain rating or winning a certain number of games. This will provide a clear target to work towards and help you stay focused.
Learning a chess opening suitable for your respective skill level will help you to perform in your games. With the availability of online resources and chess engines, players can study and analyze games with greater ease and accuracy.
No matter your level of expertise, from novice to grandmaster, chess always has something new to offer and ways to refine your strategies.
Check out online chess communities, study the games of the best players in the world, and practice, practice, practice. Who knows, with enough dedication and hard work, you could be the next chess grandmaster.