Chess is enjoying a surge in popularity across the UK, with millions of people now playing regularly.
Rachel Reeves shared a picture of her playing chess with youngsters (Image: Government)
Rachel Reeves’ announcement that the Government is investing £1.5m in a quest to identify chess prodigies and turn them into future grandmasters has been met with a mixture of scorn and irritation by her critics on social media. The Chancellor, in the spotlight in recent weeks after crying in the House of Commons, sought to accentuate the positive with a social media post in which she shared a clip of her shaking hands with and congratulating young players at a recent event for kids.
She commented: “Having played chess at a young age, I know the transformational impact it can have on young people. That’s why today we’re allocating £1.5m to help identify, support, and elevate top-tier players who have the potential to compete at a global level.” She was likely mindful of the fact that the game is enjoying a surge in popularity across the UK, with millions of people now playing regularly.
However, many who responding to her message on X were still not convinced it was a good use of taxpayers’ money.
One, Pete Sanford, shared a picture of Ms Reeves looking distraught during Prime Minister’s Questions, adding: “Tell the Truth: You lost to all of them…”
Firas Modad said: “Is tanking the British economy part of some 4D chess move, Rachel?”
Meanwhile Stephen Sutton felt there were more important things to spend the money on, saying: “This is desperate stuff. How about a basic plan to stop us going broke?”
And Mark Hendray asked: “Why? The country is broke. Taxpayers can’t bear more taxes. Why then spend on non essential things?”
According to estimates, between six and nine million people play chess in some form, either online or over the board. The rise of digital platforms has significantly expanded the game’s reach, particularly among younger demographics.
Online participation has overtaken traditional club play. Chess.com, one of the largest platforms, reports around 8.9 million registered users in the UK – placing the country among the top three globally, behind only the United States and India. In contrast, formal chess club membership has declined sharply, down 41% over the past decade, as more players shift to digital formats.
The demographic split among UK players remains skewed, with approximately 69% male and 31% female, according to recent figures.
The English Chess Federation has acknowledged the need for more initiatives to encourage broader participation, particularly among women and younger players. While casual play is increasing, the number of registered competitive players has remained relatively flat.
In early 2025, the BBC launched a prime-time chess competition series titled Chess Masters: The Endgame. Broadcast on BBC Two and iPlayer, the eight-part series attracted a peak audience of nearly 900,000 viewers per episode.
Hosted by Sue Perkins and featuring commentary from Grandmaster David Howell, the show was widely seen as an effort to bring the game to a mainstream audience and showcase emerging British talent.
Public interest in chess has also led to a rise in consumer demand. Retailers have reported increased sales of chess sets, and the game has featured in advertising and fashion campaigns. England’s top-ranked player is Grandmaster Michael Adams, who has consistently remained among the country’s strongest for over two decades.
The current world champion is China’s Ding Liren, who won the title in 2023. However, despite the enduring appeal of human competition, no player today can realistically beat the strongest computer engines, which now dominate the game at the highest analytical level.
