Engaging in a chess club enhanced my ties to Sweden
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Stockholm, Sweden - Chess enthusiast David Ajena has launched Stockholm Chess, a weekly meetup for players of all levels, adding to the already active chess community in Sweden. The popularity of chess in the country has remained steady and shows signs of continued local enthusiasm.
The Wasa Chess Club in Stockholm recently hosted a Dice Chess event in April 2025, demonstrating the ongoing active chess communities that embrace both traditional and novel forms of the game. This suggests that chess culture is vibrant at least at the club level.
Historically, Swedish grandmasters like Gösta Stoltz have remained celebrated figures, evidencing a classical foundation for chess interest in Sweden. However, no recent Swedish top-ranked players appear on the world top list in 2025.
While the Netflix show The Queen’s Gambit and the Covid-19 pandemic have globally contributed to a chess boom, there is no direct evidence from available data linking these factors to a notable increase in chess popularity in Sweden. There is no mention of a rise in chess players, online participation, or sales related to these factors in Sweden. The presence of chess events and clubs appears consistent with normal chess engagement rather than a spike correlating with those events.
The Swedish Chess Federation hit an all-time high last year, with more than 45,000 members playing in the country's many chess clubs. This indicates a strong interest in the game among Swedes.
A whole ecosystem of chess-related content exists, including YouTube channels, online learning tools, and podcasts. One notable figure is Anna Cramling, Pia Cramling's daughter, who has a YouTube channel with more than 1.5 million followers, attracting new players to the game with entertaining and instructive videos from the world of chess.
Pia Cramling, a strong Swedish chess player, became the first ever Swede to be inducted into the Chess Hall of Fame. She was the fifth ever woman to achieve the title of grandmaster and was at one point the highest ranked woman in the world.
The author, after joining a chess club, became eligible to play in tournaments and even experienced a win, finding the thrill of a physical game superior to online matches. The author also met various interesting people through the chess club, including Ahmad Sa'dah, a Jordanian coach.
Ahmad Sa'dah and his team organized the Jönköping Chess Festival, attracting top players from Sweden and beyond. The author's family even participated in a tournament with players from several countries, including Sweden, Jordan, Nigeria, UAE, and Iraq.
The author will be an assistant coach for kids and their parents in the new term at the chess club, further deepening their roots in Sweden. After a quarter of a century in Sweden, the author's roots have grown deeper due to the chess club involvement, and they express happiness about this development.
In conclusion, chess remains a well-regarded but stable sport/hobby in Sweden without clear signs of a recent major popularity surge triggered by The Queen’s Gambit or the pandemic. However, the active chess community, the presence of clubs, and the popularity of chess-related content suggest a strong and vibrant chess culture in Sweden.
David Ajena, a chess enthusiast, might find inspiration for his home-and-garden lifestyle by redesigning the decor of the Stockholm Chess Club to reflect the rich history and vibrant culture of Swedish chess, creating an immersive environment for players. Additionally, Anna Cramling, a popular YouTuber in the chess community, could collaborate with home-and-garden influencers to showcase her unique chess-themed home décor, further promoting the game and attracting new players.
