Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
In 2013, Magnus Carlsen didn’t just win the World Championship. He changed chess forever.
That moment marked the birth of a new era: chess became a business-driven sport.
For the first time, fans were willing to pay for what had always been free — tickets, broadcasts, exclusive access. What started as shock soon turned into a revolution in how chess is played, sold, and experienced.
In this episode, World Chess CEO Ilya Merenzon reflects on how the game evolved from a passion project into a global platform. We also hear from fintech entrepreneurs backing Hikaru Nakamura and IT innovators investing in the first-ever televised chess show.
The official partner of the World Chess Show is it.com Domains, a provider of innovative domain solutions. As the operator of the .it.com domain registry, it offers a dynamic platform that empowers individuals and businesses to effectively showcase their digital presence, offering domains under the .it.com suffix (for example, yourname.it.com). Visit get.it.com today and create your unique online image.
We would like to express our gratitude to WeWork Berlin for their kind support.
Media Attribution
This video includes images licensed under Creative Commons. Attribution as follows:
Photos:
Borris Spasky 17 July 1973, by Rob Croes, Anefo CC BY-SA 4.0
Anatoly Karpov 2017, by –, cropped in to subject, CC BY-SA 4.0
Excerpt from Fischer is King, Los Angeles Times, September 1, 1972 en.chessbase.com/Portals/all/thumbs/067/67814.jpeg
Excerpt from Fischer Captures Chess Title as Spassky Resigns by Phone, New York Times, September 2, 1972. https://x.com/tackettdc/status/638792752482942976?lang=bn
Garry Kasparov by Frank Hoppe vondoren.com/single-post/CHESS-AND-FINE-TIMEPIECES?_amp_=&utm_source=chatgpt.com
Deep Blue, by Jim Gardner (James the photographer), CC BY 2.0
Garry Kasparov, 1985 by Rob Bogaerts for Anefo ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9C%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%87_%D0%B7%D0%B0_%D0%B7%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5_%D1%87%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%BF%D0%B8%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%B0_%D0%BF%D0%BE_%D1%88%D0%B0%D1%85%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BC_1985
Excerpt from It’s Kasparov Who’s Blue After Defeat, LOS ANGELES TIMES, May 12, 1997
rarenewspapers.com/view/688386?acl=943779173&rc=blog&imagelist=1&srsltid=AfmBOoooSkZAAkVxKO2c_4lw7-ZAV00BoaUwT2wpbN21UlZmTjcGuLXQ
IBM Aptiva 2144-M51 desktop computer with IBM G40 VGA monitor and IBM M2 buckling spring keyboard, circa 1995, by Ruben de Rijcke CC BY-SA 4.0
Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal celebrates his goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifying match between Armenia and Portugal at Republican Stadium in Yerevan, September 6, 2025, by YantsImages, CC BY-SA 4.0
Videos:
Video excerpt courtesy of Ray Harryhausen & Charles H. Schneer, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer,”Clash of Titans” retrieved from Youtube: youtube.com/watch?v=kCNt3lnZEys
Video excerpt courtesy of Witnify,”Boris Spassky on losing to Bobby Fischer at the World Chess Championship 1972” retrieved from Youtube: youtube.com/watch?v=JSL8nd8LV-k
Video excerpt courtesy of Axiom Digital Hues,”Boris Spassky Vs Robert James Fischer (Bobby Fischer)” retrieved from Youtube: youtube.com/watch?v=L8MlGHJKAuM
Movie excerpt courtesy of BBC and Francis Hanly,”Spassky v Fischer documentary "Clash of the Titans"” retrieved from Youtube: youtu.be/kCNt3lnZEys?si=I1OdcDD8Jp7_oq9g
Video excerpt courtesy of AP Archive,”Boris Spassky on losing to Bobby Fischer at the World Chess Championship 1972” retrieved from Youtube: youtu.be/JSL8nd8LV-k?si=ATbGYI8Wl8T3v_t6
Video excerpt courtesy of Axiom Digital Hues,”Boris Spassky Vs Robert James Fischer (Bobby Fischer)” retrieved from Youtube:youtu.be/L8MlGHJKAuM?si=As1-BIJELMozi1rl
Video excerpt courtesy of NorthernUnion,”Kasparov Karpov Lyon 1990 (5)” retrieved from Youtube: youtu.be/cBHa9pSkkXM?si=vgR1kR6MAKMG2MJ6
Video excerpt courtesy of Rob Clark,”Kasparov v Karpov - a look back at their 1990 WC match” retrieved from Youtube:youtu.be/sddi7WdBR4w?si=ErcSS4G8lt_kiiog
Video excerpt courtesy of GJ_Chess,”Kasparov's Calculations - Mindboggling!!! (very instructive)” retrieved from Youtube:youtu.be/SMe-hvCwTRo?si=3TltrCgb6Wpggq00
Video excerpt courtesy of ChessMaster,”Гарри Каспаров - Deep Blue. 1 партия матча 1996 года. Шахматы” retrieved from Youtube: youtu.be/72EoDlIighc?si=j_1pDzrrefZUPI4l
Video excerpt courtesy of FIDE,”The moment Magnus Carlsen became World Chess Champion” retrieved from Youtube: youtu.be/x-dnmW62-B8?si=o_WpUTd0AoGWCWv6
Video excerpt courtesy of CBS News,”Magnus Carlsen: "How My Mind Works" 2013 Interview” retrieved from Youtube: youtu.be/jdkFP30qXqM?si=VVFz9yvQxmWcaQdn
Video excerpt courtesy of ChessBase India,”Magnus Carlsen's Jeans Gambit | The Complete Story” retrieved from Youtube:youtu.be/FOpwHFlevMY?si=paopwKwlFdgGyEVS
In 2013, Magnus Carlsen didn’t just win the World Championship. He changed chess forever.
That moment marked the birth of a new era: chess became a business-driven sport.
For the first time, fans were willing to pay for what had always been free — tickets, broadcasts, exclusive access. What started as shock soon turned into a revolution in how chess is played, sold, and experienced.
In this episode, World Chess CEO Ilya Merenzon reflects on how the game evolved from a passion project into a global platform. We also hear from fintech entrepreneurs backing Hikaru Nakamura and IT innovators investing in the first-ever televised chess show.
The official partner of the World Chess Show is it.com Domains, a provider of innovative domain solutions. As the operator of the .it.com domain registry, it offers a dynamic platform that empowers individuals and businesses to effectively showcase their digital presence, offering domains under the .it.com suffix (for example, yourname.it.com). Visit get.it.com today and create your unique online image.
We would like to express our gratitude to WeWork Berlin for their kind support.
Media Attribution
This video includes images licensed under Creative Commons. Attribution as follows:
Photos:
Borris Spasky 17 July 1973, by Rob Croes, Anefo CC BY-SA 4.0
Anatoly Karpov 2017, by –, cropped in to subject, CC BY-SA 4.0
Excerpt from Fischer is King, Los Angeles Times, September 1, 1972 en.chessbase.com/Portals/all/thumbs/067/67814.jpeg
Excerpt from Fischer Captures Chess Title as Spassky Resigns by Phone, New York Times, September 2, 1972. https://x.com/tackettdc/status/638792752482942976?lang=bn
Garry Kasparov by Frank Hoppe vondoren.com/single-post/CHESS-AND-FINE-TIMEPIECES?_amp_=&utm_source=chatgpt.com
Deep Blue, by Jim Gardner (James the photographer), CC BY 2.0
Garry Kasparov, 1985 by Rob Bogaerts for Anefo ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9C%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%87_%D0%B7%D0%B0_%D0%B7%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5_%D1%87%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%BF%D0%B8%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%B0_%D0%BF%D0%BE_%D1%88%D0%B0%D1%85%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BC_1985
Excerpt from It’s Kasparov Who’s Blue After Defeat, LOS ANGELES TIMES, May 12, 1997
rarenewspapers.com/view/688386?acl=943779173&rc=blog&imagelist=1&srsltid=AfmBOoooSkZAAkVxKO2c_4lw7-ZAV00BoaUwT2wpbN21UlZmTjcGuLXQ
IBM Aptiva 2144-M51 desktop computer with IBM G40 VGA monitor and IBM M2 buckling spring keyboard, circa 1995, by Ruben de Rijcke CC BY-SA 4.0
Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal celebrates his goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifying match between Armenia and Portugal at Republican Stadium in Yerevan, September 6, 2025, by YantsImages, CC BY-SA 4.0
Videos:
Video excerpt courtesy of Ray Harryhausen & Charles H. Schneer, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer,”Clash of Titans” retrieved from Youtube: youtube.com/watch?v=kCNt3lnZEys
Video excerpt courtesy of Witnify,”Boris Spassky on losing to Bobby Fischer at the World Chess Championship 1972” retrieved from Youtube: youtube.com/watch?v=JSL8nd8LV-k
Video excerpt courtesy of Axiom Digital Hues,”Boris Spassky Vs Robert James Fischer (Bobby Fischer)” retrieved from Youtube: youtube.com/watch?v=L8MlGHJKAuM
Movie excerpt courtesy of BBC and Francis Hanly,”Spassky v Fischer documentary "Clash of the Titans"” retrieved from Youtube: youtu.be/kCNt3lnZEys?si=I1OdcDD8Jp7_oq9g
Video excerpt courtesy of AP Archive,”Boris Spassky on losing to Bobby Fischer at the World Chess Championship 1972” retrieved from Youtube: youtu.be/JSL8nd8LV-k?si=ATbGYI8Wl8T3v_t6
Video excerpt courtesy of Axiom Digital Hues,”Boris Spassky Vs Robert James Fischer (Bobby Fischer)” retrieved from Youtube:youtu.be/L8MlGHJKAuM?si=As1-BIJELMozi1rl
Video excerpt courtesy of NorthernUnion,”Kasparov Karpov Lyon 1990 (5)” retrieved from Youtube: youtu.be/cBHa9pSkkXM?si=vgR1kR6MAKMG2MJ6
Video excerpt courtesy of Rob Clark,”Kasparov v Karpov - a look back at their 1990 WC match” retrieved from Youtube:youtu.be/sddi7WdBR4w?si=ErcSS4G8lt_kiiog
Video excerpt courtesy of GJ_Chess,”Kasparov's Calculations - Mindboggling!!! (very instructive)” retrieved from Youtube:youtu.be/SMe-hvCwTRo?si=3TltrCgb6Wpggq00
Video excerpt courtesy of ChessMaster,”Гарри Каспаров - Deep Blue. 1 партия матча 1996 года. Шахматы” retrieved from Youtube: youtu.be/72EoDlIighc?si=j_1pDzrrefZUPI4l
Video excerpt courtesy of FIDE,”The moment Magnus Carlsen became World Chess Champion” retrieved from Youtube: youtu.be/x-dnmW62-B8?si=o_WpUTd0AoGWCWv6
Video excerpt courtesy of CBS News,”Magnus Carlsen: "How My Mind Works" 2013 Interview” retrieved from Youtube: youtu.be/jdkFP30qXqM?si=VVFz9yvQxmWcaQdn
Video excerpt courtesy of ChessBase India,”Magnus Carlsen's Jeans Gambit | The Complete Story” retrieved from Youtube:youtu.be/FOpwHFlevMY?si=paopwKwlFdgGyEVS
