EP 154 | Is Chess an eSport?

from Dojo Talks: A Chess Podcast · host IM Kostya Kavutskiy, IM David Pruess, GM Jesse Kraai

Join the Dojo - https://chessdojo.club Use Code DOJO before June 15th 2025 to get 40% off your first month at the Dojo! IM Kostya Kavutskiy, IM David Pruess and GM Jesse Kraai question if chess is an E-Sport. What do you think? Watch Live - https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Play Chess - https://go.chess.com/chessdojo Merch - https://www.chessdojo.club/shop Want to support the channel? Patreon - https://patreon.com/chessdojo Donate - https://streamelements.com/chessdojo/tip Find all of our chess book & supplies recommendations (& more!) on our Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/chessdojo Shopping through our link is a great way to support the Dojo. We earn a small affiliate % but at no cost to you. Website: https://chessdojo.club Twitch: https://twitch.tv/chessdojo Discord: https://discord.gg/GhKsJtjpFw Twitter: https://twitter.com/chessdojo Patreon: https://patreon.com/chessdojo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chessdojo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chessdojo Podcast: https://chessdojotalks.podbean.com TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@/chessdojoclips 00:03 – Chess joins Esports World Cup 00:52 – Event format & prize money 01:39 – Impact on Magnus Tour 02:55 – Saudi Arabia controversy 03:55 – Top 12 participants listed 05:00 – Wildcard qualifiers 07:07 – Ethics vs esport debate 17:09 – Magnus’s business motives 30:20 – Is chess a video game? 37:08 – Audience split: old vs new 43:14 – Support for freestyle chess 48:08 – FIDE’s relevance at risk 53:25 – Ambassadorship ethics 59:46 – LGBTQ & inclusivity issues 1:04:24 – Final thoughts & viewer poll

What this episode covers

Join the Dojo - https://chessdojo.clubUse Code DOJO before June 15th 2025 to get 40% off your first month at the Dojo! IM Kostya Kavutskiy, IM David Pruess and GM Jesse Kraai question if chess is an E-Sport. What do you think? Watch Live - https://twitch.tv/chessdojoPlay Chess - https://go.chess.com/chessdojo Merch - https://www.chessdojo.club/shop Want to support the channel?Patreon - https://patreon.com/chessdojoDonate - https://streamelements.com/chessdojo/tip Find all of our chess book & supplies recommendations (& more!) on our Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/chessdojo Shopping through our link is a great way to support the Dojo. We earn a small affiliate % but at no cost to you. Website: https://chessdojo.clubTwitch: https://twitch.tv/chessdojoDiscord: https://discord.gg/GhKsJtjpFwTwitter: https://twitter.com/chessdojoPatreon: https://patreon.com/chessdojoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/chessdojoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/chessdojoPodcast: https://chessdojotalks.podbean.comTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@/chessdojoclips 00:03 – Chess joins Esports World Cup00:52 – Event format & prize money01:39 – Impact on Magnus Tour02:55 – Saudi Arabia controversy03:55 – Top 12 participants listed05:00 – Wildcard qualifiers07:07 – Ethics vs esport debate17:09 – Magnus’s business motives30:20 – Is chess a video game?37:08 – Audience split: old vs new43:14 – Support for freestyle chess48:08 – FIDE’s relevance at risk53:25 – Ambassadorship ethics59:46 – LGBTQ & inclusivity issues1:04:24 – Final thoughts & viewer poll