'Good News For Chess' As BBC's 'Chess Masters' Sparks Mixed Reactions Following Premiere
The BBC’s latest reality TV competition, Chess Masters: The Endgame, made its highly anticipated debut on March 10, marking a rare return of chess to prime-time television. However, the eight-episode series has provoked mixed responses from both critics and chess enthusiasts.
Nearly a year after Chess.com reported on the new show, the first 30-minute episode was aired on BBC Two. The innovative series marks a milestone for the game as the first reality-driven chess show featured on prime-time TV in the UK. According to The Guardian, the episode attracted 890,000 viewers, compared to an average of 1.7 million for the Monday 8 p.m. time slot.
The show is hosted by Sue Perkins, known for hosting The Great British Bakeoff, along with Chess.com's own GM David Howell, and his co-commentator, chess coach Anthony Mathurin. Unfortunately, the series is currently only available online if you are based in the UK, but a few clips from the episode are freely available, along with the trailer, which was released on March 4.
It's been almost five years since Netflix hit The Queen's Gambit took the world by storm, bringing millions of new fans into the game and fueling the chess boom started by the pandemic.
Now, with several chess-related projects in the pipeline—including an upcoming Netflix: Untold episode on the infamous cheating controversy involving GMs Magnus Carlsen and Hans Niemann and A24’s planned feature film on the same topic—chess could be poised for another mainstream moment.
As Chess Masters: The Endgame joins this cultural wave, many see it as a potential vehicle for growing the game’s audience. “We tried for 32 years to have chess on television, so irrespective of what people think of it, this is good news for chess,” said IM Malcolm Pein, Director of International Chess and External Relations, in a comment to Chess.com.
We tried for 32 years to have chess on television, so irrespective of what people think of it, this is good news for chess.
—Malcolm Pein
The six contestants, all amateurs unaware of the chess level of their opponents, were paired against each other in matches. The three winners went through to the next round, while the three losing players had to solve a puzzle.
That challenge was "The Bashing Bishop" puzzle, which was presented by Howell. The goal was to capture as many pawns as possible in the least number of moves. Every move would have to be a capture.
Can you solve it?
One contestant was able to solve the puzzle quickly, and the two remaining players had to play a match for another chance to stay in the show. In the end, one player was eliminated in classic reality-style.
The producers Curve Media have introduced an innovative fast-paced format driven by personalities more than chess moves. One standout contestant was 56-year-old Nick from London, nicknamed 'The Swashbuckler', who shared that he learned the rules while in prison.
"The thing that kept me together was chess! I focused hard on studying chess, because it kept me out of all the shenanigans and trouble that happened around me. Chess is amazing," he said.
The thing that kept me together was chess! I focused hard on studying chess, because it kept me out of all the shenanigans and trouble that happened around me.
—Nick, BBC Chess Masters Contestant
His opponent in the episode was none other than WCM Tallulah Roberts, better known as Lula Robs, a chess streamer and well-known content creator from Jersey. Dubbed 'The Chess Princess' by the show, she analyzed her game in the show in a new YouTube video on her channel.
The reactions from television critics in the UK have been mixed. One of the more positive reviews came from Michael Hogan at The Telegraph, calling it "quietly compelling and full of chequered charm." He gave it 4/5 and praised Howell as a commentator:
Enthusiastic and engaging, he did an excellent job of explaining moves to relative beginners without patronising more experienced players.
The three-time British Champion was also given a thumbs-up in a positive review by The Times, which said his "bouncy enthusiasm injects energy into the show." TV critic Carol Midgley gave it 3/5 and said:
Inevitably the “ultimate mind sport” has had to wear reality TV clothing, with the old “one of you will leave the competition today” shtick in place to create tension, but it has a wholesome nerdy charm that is seductive.
It has a wholesome nerdy charm that is seductive
—Carol Midgley, The Times
She added, "the contestants did demonstrate the increasingly widening appeal of a game that used to be unfairly associated with bookish older men with nose hair."
The most negative review came from Lucy Mangan at The Guardian, who incorrectly claimed the "flurry of interest (...) has long fallen back to normal levels five years ago." She branded the BBC show, "so dull it’s almost unwatchable," rating it a mere 2/5.
Another element that provoked a reaction was the show's decision to assign contestants dramatic nicknames. Garry Bushell at the Daily Express did not give it a rating, but had a fairly negative opinion:
To compensate for the lack of thrills, BBC2 inflicted daft nicknames on the contestants. Caitlin became ‘The Smiling Assassin,’ nice Claire from south Wales was ‘The Killer Queen’ etc. None of them were any match for The Unimpressed Viewer.
On X, reactions were similarly divided. Several complained about the lack of actual chess in the show, while others felt it went too fast and that they couldn't pick up what was happening. Other users said they loved it and wished it was longer.
Another one said:
Very much enjoyed #chessmasters on BBC2 this evening
— David Barker 📕 Pax & The Missing Head out now (@BlueGold201) March 10, 2025
Got me itching to get out the board again... pic.twitter.com/pJNK9etG59
The show continues today with the second episode.
