FIDE CEO Sparks Chess Drama: GothamChess and ChessBase India Respond to Allegations Questioning Content Creators’ Impact
The chess world is abuzz following a public dispute involving Emil Sutovsky, CEO of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), and two of the most prominent chess content creators, Levy Rozman (GothamChess) and Sagar Shah (ChessBase India).
The controversy centers on Sutovsky’s social media posts that questioned the contributions of streamers and YouTubers, explicitly comparing GothamChess and ChessBase India.
The drama ignited after GothamChess’s Levy Rozman concluded a European tour in May 2025, which included an interview with New in Chess magazine.
An image from the interview, featuring Rozman with a “ridiculous facial expression” and the quote “people know three chess players Magnus Hikaru and me. That’s bad. That’s not my fault and I hope it changes,” was published.
Rozman clarified that the quote was taken out of context. It was a reference to a previous conversation with an athlete about making chess accessible to a mass audience, where the athlete mentioned only knowing Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, and Rozman due to YouTube videos.
Rozman also noted that in countries like India, chess fans are aware of local heroes such as Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa, and Viswanathan Anand.
FIDE CEO’s Controversial Tweets
Emil Sutovsky, under the handle @EmilSutovsky, publicly questioned Rozman’s quote. In his initial tweet, he stated, “Do you agree with that? I don’t – but maybe that’s because my bubble consists of hardcore chess fans. But I do feel Levy’s perception is extremely US-centric. And I also feel, that in general streamers/youtubers impact on the game is much less significant than it used to be few years ago…”.
The situation escalated with a follow-up tweet from Sutovsky, which directly compared “YouTuber G” (GothamChess) and “YouTuber S” (Sagar Shah’s ChessBase India).
Sutovsky wrote, thinking out his scenario, “G has three times more subscribers, but how many of them become real chess fans? Play regularly? Start following events, take chess lessons, become a part of chess ecosystem? S may have much less subscribers, but they become hardcore chess fans, and not just consumers of the channel’s content. Who’s contribution to the chess world is more important? I go with S…”.
Rozman expressed his disbelief, highlighting the unusual nature of a governing body’s CEO diminishing the role of influencers in their own space and “pitting chess fans against one another”.
He questioned Sutovsky’s definition of a “real” or “hardcore” chess fan, pointing out the diverse ways people engage with chess, from playing casual games on apps to attending local clubs, and the financial barriers to activities like chess lessons.
Rozman argued that popular content creators serve as the “top of funnel,” introducing millions to chess, some of whom eventually delve deeper into the game and its ecosystem. He stressed that sports thrive on “casual fandom” and that the chess world often “can’t get out of our own way” in making the game more accessible.
Sagar Shah’s Unified Response
In a display of unity, Sagar Shah of ChessBase India, who shares a “fantastic relationship” and “zero competition” with Rozman, issued a mature and unifying statement on Twitter. Shah asserted, “we are all working together to push chess in a positive direction”. He commended FIDE for organizing “some of the most exciting events in the world” and their critical role in chess as a sport.
Shah particularly praised GothamChess, stating he “is one of the most valuable people in the chess ecosystem” for catering to a “very wide audience” and bringing “chess into the lives of so many new people”.
He acknowledged that these new fans eventually explore other channels and professional events. Shah concluded, “it is futile to think who has contributed more to the cause of popularizing chess we need to be appreciative of every single entity that has contributed positively to the sport”.
A Call for Collaboration Over Comparison
In a subsequent video, Rozman invited Shah to discuss the matter, choosing to “take a positive note to this drama”. Shah reiterated his belief that “it’s very difficult to say…who’s doing more or who’s doing less because at the end of the day there are so many people who are contributing to the growth of the sport that sometimes it becomes very difficult to quantify it”.
The two content creators highlighted their different, yet complementary, approaches to promoting chess. ChessBase India, with a team of 30, focuses on comprehensive event coverage, interviews, e-commerce, and regional content, often traveling extensively to capture grassroots and major tournaments.
Their viewership is predominantly Indian (50-80%), though it varies by event. GothamChess, on the other hand, reaches a vast international audience (27% US, 9% India, etc.), bringing in hundreds of thousands of new viewers daily, often through the YouTube algorithm.
Both agreed on the immense importance of “casual fans” for the sport’s growth, sponsorships, and the overall “chess boom”. Shah noted that content creators, unlike commentators in other sports, hold significant recognition alongside top players, serving as gateways to the chess world.
He also humbly acknowledged ChessBase India’s dependence on the broader chess ecosystem—organizers like FIDE, players, and events—for their content. Rozman reciprocated, emphasizing the “symbiotic” relationship between content creators and organizing bodies, acknowledging the hard work that goes into putting on successful events.
In a lighter moment, the pair humorously discussed their upcoming chess match in four months, part of a team event, joking about the pressure and the potential for entertaining blunders.
Rozman concluded the discussion by reiterating that the FIDE CEO should not be “pitting two massive chess channels against each other” or attaching “inherent value” to different types of fans. He urged the chess community to “keep pushing the game to new heights” and enjoy the current “incredible period” of chess popularity, emphasizing collaboration over division.
