WORLD CHESS SHOW EPISODE 4

It’s not often that chess makes headlines outside the sport — but this match did.

In May 2025, at the elite Norway Chess tournament, something happened that hadn’t in years: the reigning World Champion sat across from Magnus Carlsen — in classical chess, the long, high-stakes format where reputations are truly made.

Carlsen isn’t just any player. He’s the face of modern chess — a former World Champion, global celebrity, and the number one-ranked player in the world for over a decade. He gave up the title by choice, not defeat. And now, for the first time, he faced the teenager who claimed it: 18-year-old D. Gukesh. It wasn’t just a match. It was a collision — of generations, styles, and visions for the future of the game.

This episode unpacks that moment. Who really defines greatness — the one with the title, or the one everyone still fears? What happens when the past and future meet in the present? And why does this quiet game suddenly feel so urgent?

But the story doesn’t end there. As chess speeds up — with faster formats, younger champions, and AI-fueled training — a 56-year-old legend delivers a surprise performance, challenging everything we assume about age and competition.

The Clash captures a sport in transition. A match that turned into a metaphor. And a question every sport eventually has to ask: Who’s next? Also in this episode we met with international master and top-notch chess commentator Jovanka Houska from England in London during the World rapid and blitz team championship. She explained in great detail what it’s like to be in the commentary booth, what translating chess into words really means, the stress of the job and the future of the industry. How do you make chess an interesting watch for the general audience? Find out!

Producer of The World Chess Show
Olga Kulichikhina