Perhaps most remarkably, chess has become a social phenomenon. Chess cafes are opening in trendy neighborhoods. Dating apps report that listing chess as a hobby increases match rates. The game, once associated with solitary intensity, has become a vehicle for connection.
"Chess is the great equalizer," says Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura. "It doesn't matter who you are, where you come from, how old you are. On the board, the only thing that matters is the quality of your ideas. I think people find that incredibly appealing in a world that often feels divided."
Whether this boom will sustain itself remains to be seen. But for now, the sixty-four squares have never looked more inviting.