[AITree]

The game of chess has always been popular, but recently it has attracted a lot of interest because of the success of Netflix's "The Queen's Gambit" series. People of all ages, especially teens, have taken a newfound interest in the game as a result of the presentation.

[largepeepee]

Sure Netflix played a part but a larger portion of the growth was probably from popular twitch streamers/YouTubers who picked up the hobby and brought their young communities with them to chess tournaments vs other similar streamers etc in recent years.

It's become like a social status among people to have a decent elo, a horrible marker for intelligence but a growing popular one.

[ishjoh]

For me it was the YouTube algorithm. One day it recommended a video by agadmator chess about a classic Bobby Fischer game. I've been following it ever since and really had a lot of fun watching his breakdown of the classical world chess championship that just happened.

[bobmaxup]

Characters on fantasical drugs having superhuman abilities?

[adzm]

I think you misunderstood a good section of that series if that is your takeaway.