So, “The Queen’s Gambit” made chess vaguely cool again, right? Good. Because BBC Two is about to up the ante with “Chess Masters,” a new competition series that skips the melodramatic miniseries tropes and goes straight for the intellectual jugular. Twelve of the UK’s brightest chess minds will lock horns (or rather, rooks) in a battle of wits and strategy. Host Sue Perkins, thankfully, will be there to keep things from getting too serious.
These aren’t your park bench speed chess players. We’re talking rising stars, the kind of people who calculate five moves ahead while simultaneously ordering a flat white. They’ll face a gauntlet of puzzles and eliminators, all in the pursuit of the coveted Chess Champion title. UK Grandmaster and three-time British champion David Howell will lend his expertise, along with chess coach and “Traitors” alum Anthony Mathurin. The BBC seems to be setting the stage for high-stakes drama with just a dash of reality TV flair.
Let’s be real though, competitive chess isn’t exactly known for its edge-of-your-seat excitement. But with the resurgent interest in the game, maybe “Chess Masters” can find a way to make cerebral cool again. Or at least mildly interesting for a Tuesday night. Find out when the first move is made on BBC Two, Monday, March 10, 2025, at 8 pm.
