The popular perception of chess has changed throughout history, according to social factors. Today, the activity can still be played in person, as is traditional, but also over the internet.
The most accurate studies claim that chess originated during the 6th century in India, although the game didn’t yet have the exact format by which it’s known today. With such a long history, it’s only natural that it has become a significant part of the history of competitive games.
Chess competitions are held in every country in the world, and the game is often used as a “metric” of an individual’s intelligence. When media want to show that someone is smart, they show them playing chess. There’s truth to this, of course, but things are more complex than that!
The most interesting part is that platforms like papergames.io have made the experience much more accessible, allowing anyone to free chess play online with friends in a straightforward and free way, without needing to install anything.
This ease helps keep chess alive among different audiences and age groups, making it possible for the game to be part of both casual moments and more serious competitions. In this text, we’re going to present some celebrities who have a habit of playing chess, as well as show how you can enter this world, even challenging your own friends in a simple and online way.
5 celebrities who enjoy the game
In this list, some names might be more “obvious,” but we’re sure at least one of the famous people mentioned below will surprise you by breaking stereotypes.
1. Will Smith
It’s impossible to talk about famous people passionate about chess without mentioning perhaps the most “high-profile” actor to take interest and actually be good at the game: Will Smith! Smith learned about the game from his father and never abandoned the activity over the years, being considered an excellent chess player.
2. George R. R. Martin
Nowadays, author George R. R. Martin is better known to fans for the lack of a new book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series, with the last work released in 2011. The reality is that Martin is interested in many things besides writing, games among them, with chess being one of his passions.
More than just a player and enthusiast of the sport, Martin was even a chess coach during the 1970s, decades before his literary explosion. The author’s appreciation and knowledge of the game is evident even in his literature, where he describes matches of similar games.
3. Madonna
Did you know that pop star Madonna is an avid chess player? That’s right! With tens of thousands of games played, the singer not only enjoys the sport but plays it very well. More than that, Madonna is a fan of online chess matches — which is surprising for such a huge star.
4. Anya Taylor-Joy
In 2020, Netflix released the series The Queen’s Gambit, starring actress Anya Taylor-Joy, which tells the story of a chess prodigy in the 1950s and 1960s. The series drew attention not only from chess lovers but also from those who simply enjoy a great fictional story.
What most people don’t know is that Anya Taylor-Joy not only learned a lot about the game to play the role in the series but became passionate about the sport. The preparation she went through for the show made her an excellent player, with the actress’s coach noting her aptitude for chess.
5. Arnold Schwarzenegger
When we think of the “stereotype” of a chess player, the image of a bodybuilder probably doesn’t come to mind, but that’s the reality of Arnold Schwarzenegger, one of the movie stars most frequently seen with the activity, even playing during breaks on film sets.
Where can you challenge your friends to a game of chess?
In one of the opening paragraphs, we briefly mentioned the possibility of playing free chess with friends — something that can be done through the platform Papergames.io. And chess isn’t the only option available — the site also offers Checkers, Gomoku, Connect 4, Tic Tac Toe, and Battleship.
The option to play with friends is the most interesting, but there are also alternatives for matches with a random player or even against a bot. The latter allows players to test their skills in chess before competing against other opponents, exploring different types of strategies.
For those interested in rankings, there’s also a list of the players who scored the most points in a match, which is updated with new records. This increases the competitiveness and gives high-level players an “extra” challenge as they explore their favorite game.
And these are just a few names who are interested in the activity. Considering that celebrities are people just like any of us, it’s easy to see how they might fall in love with and practice chess, both in person and online. More important than being a prodigy at the game is enjoying the practice of it!
