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Chess streaming transforms careers during pandemic boom
When Nemo Zhou found herself struggling with lockdown monotony in 2020, she turned to chess streaming as a creative outlet-and a way to earn income. Five years later, the woman grandmaster has built a multi-platform following of over two million, turning a side project into a full-time profession.
From guest appearances to global influence
Zhou, then a University of Toronto student pursuing economics and mathematics, initially appeared on a friend's chess stream before launching her own channel. The timing aligned perfectly with The Queen's Gambit's Netflix release, which, alongside pandemic restrictions, sparked a surge in chess interest. Recognizing the trend's staying power, Zhou left university to focus on streaming.
Today, the 26-year-old broadcasts five to six hours daily, five days a week, with peak viewership on weekends. Her content spans online matches, in-person games against New York's Washington Square Park hustlers, and collaborations with sponsors. Revenue streams include YouTube ad revenue, Twitch subscriptions (starting at $5/month), and Instagram brand deals.
Financial success and industry shifts
While Zhou declined to disclose earnings, University of York researcher Dr. Nina Willment estimates top creators like her could earn six-figure salaries across platforms. However, she cautions that income transparency remains rare, and Zhou's two-million-strong following places her in the top 1-2% of global content creators.
The chess boom has modernized the game's image. Traditional tournaments-once silent, hours-long affairs-now feature rapid and blitz formats with time limits as short as three minutes per player. Heart rate monitors highlight players' stress during critical moments, while last year's Esports World Cup debut in Riyadh marked chess's entry into competitive gaming. This year's event will expand participation further.
"We needed a makeover, and we're very much getting that."
Fiona Steil-Antoni, Woman International Master and commentator
Breaking barriers and inspiring new voices
Zhou's success has paved the way for creators like Sarah El Barbry, a 24-year-old Paris-based streamer with Egyptian and Moroccan roots. After noticing a lack of French-speaking women in chess content, El Barbry launched her TikTok channel in 2023, later expanding to streaming. A viral November 2025 video-showing her checkmating with just a king and queen-garnered 28 million views and 10,000 new followers.
Despite growth, challenges persist. El Barbry's income rose from $117 to $1,700 monthly but remains below France's minimum wage. Willment notes that while top streamers thrive, "thousands, if not millions," earn nothing, highlighting the industry's volatility.
Gender dynamics and future ambitions
As of January 2026, female-led channels accounted for half of Twitch's top 20 chess streams (excluding corporate channels), per Twitchmetrics. Yet, most creators and audiences remain male. El Barbry estimates her audience shifted from 95% to 85% male, while Zhou reports an 80% male YouTube following but a 50-50 split on Instagram.
FIDE data shows female participation in standard chess rose from 10% in 2020 to 16.5% in 2026, though no woman ranks in the top 100 players. Steil-Antoni attributes gaps to lower participation rates, scarce female coaches, and hostile environments. Countries like Mongolia (39% female players), Sri Lanka (35%), and Uganda (30%)-where chess is taught in schools-show smaller disparities.
Zhou now diversifies into lifestyle, travel, and fashion content, recently attending Paris Fashion Week with hopes of securing a modeling agency. El Barbry, meanwhile, plans to give streaming six more months before pivoting to corporate work. Her January debut as an esports commentator marked a milestone in her "everything or nothing" journey.
