Chess is a game that transcends borders, backgrounds, and professions. Whether you’re an average joe, a world-class athlete, a billionaire entrepreneur, or an award-winning actor, the appeal of chess—its depth, strategy, and challenge—can captivate anyone.
It turns out that quite a few celebrities share a passion for the 64 squares and 32 pieces. Let’s explore some famous names who enjoy playing chess and, in many cases, are surprisingly skilled at it.
1. Arnold Schwarzenegger
While Arnold’s official chess rating is unknown, his love for the game is clear. He’s actively promoted chess through his Arnold Classic events, which include chess among various international competitions.
In the 2019 Africa edition of the Arnold Classic, he fondly recalled playing chess throughout his youth.
🎥 Watch one of Arnold’s games here:
2. Richard Branson
The billionaire adventurer Richard Branson has shared his love for chess publicly, even tweeting about it.
🧠 With an estimated rating around 1200, Branson can hold his own against casual players. He admits to playing by instinct rather than studying the game deeply—a trait he also credits for his success in business.
3. Tobey Maguire
Tobey Maguire, best known as Spider-Man, is a longtime chess fan. He’s been spotted at chess events and even starred in Pawn Sacrifice, portraying chess legend Bobby Fischer.
🎬 Watch the trailer for Pawn Sacrifice:
4. George R.R. Martin
Before creating the Game of Thrones universe, George R.R. Martin was a serious chess player. He even worked as a tournament director in the 1970s, during the Bobby Fischer-fueled chess boom in the U.S.
He achieved the USCF title of “Expert,” with a peak chess.com rating of 1905—quite impressive. Chess helped fund his early writing career before his books made him a household name.
5. Will Smith
Will Smith credits his father for teaching him chess as a child. At 12, he beat his dad in a game—after which his father refused to play him again!
Will Smith took training for 3 days from Maurice Ashley, a famous chess grandmaster and commentator from USA.
According to him, the best thing he learned from Maurice Ashley was positional chess. Check it out in a video below:
🎥 Watch Will talk about chess:
6. Manny Pacquiao
In 2013, boxing legend Manny Pacquiao sponsored a major chess tournament in the Philippines and played an exhibition match against GM Eugenio Torre.
The game ended in a draw after 20 moves—likely arranged for show—but fans loved seeing their national hero take on a chess grandmaster. Pacquiao has said he played chess even before stepping into the boxing ring.
7. Bill Gates
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates may not be a master, but he enjoys the intellectual challenge of chess.
He famously played a fun, fast-paced game on television against World Champion Magnus Carlsen—lasting just 12 seconds!
🎥 Watch Gates vs. Carlsen:
8. Elon Musk
Elon Musk played chess as a child but now prefers more complex strategy games like The Battle of Polytopia.
In interviews, he’s called chess “too simple,” though he still appreciates the strategic depth it offers.
🎙️ Watch him discuss chess:
9. Woody Harrelson
Actor Woody Harrelson is a passionate chess fan. He’s hosted charity events and even appeared at top-level tournaments.
In one memorable moment, he jokingly attempted a four-move checkmate on former World Champion Garry Kasparov.
😂 Watch the moment here:
10. Peter Thiel
PayPal co-founder and billionaire investor Peter Thiel was a strong chess player in his youth.
He holds a peak rating of 2199—just one point shy of becoming a National Master. That places him in the top 2% of FIDE-rated players worldwide.
11. Daniel Radcliffe
Daniel Radcliffe, renowned for his portrayal of Harry Potter in the film series, is also a chess enthusiast.
He has expressed his passion for chess in interviews and has mentioned playing the game to relax and unwind.
Check out all the chess scenes from famous Harry Potter series:
12. Jude Law
Jude Law, a critically acclaimed actor known for his diverse roles, is also fond of chess.
He has been photographed playing chess in his leisure time and has mentioned the game’s appeal due to its mental intensity.
Check out his famous Chess scene from “Game of Shadows” of the Sherlock series:
13. Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic, the tennis sensation, isn’t just a master on the court; he’s also a fan of chess. Djokovic mentioned, “I saw they are playing chess. That was the first thing that Boris introduced to our team, as well, playing chess.”
He understands that chess is not just a game; it’s a tool for improving focus, mental clarity, and strategic thinking.
In addition to his love for chess, Djokovic recently took on an intriguing challenge at the Rolex Paris Masters.
He faced his former coach, Boris Becker, and the rising star Holger Rune. Djokovic keenly observed that Becker was employing some of their old tactics with Rune, highlighting the chess-like strategic thinking that stretches across different domains, from the tennis court to the chessboard.
Before You Go…
If you love chess as much as these celebrities do, check out this list of top chess movies:
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