"Chess Masters: The Endgame" retains 710,000 viewers

The new chess show, Chess Masters: The Endgame, aired its first episode on March 10. Although it attracted 890,000 viewers, it received mixed reviews from critics. One critic described it as “so dull it’s almost unwatchable.” Despite initial concerns, the show maintained 710,000 viewers in its second week, which is about 6% of the TV audience. Online reactions were generally milder, with some comments focusing on the dramatic commentary and the presentation of players. In the second episode, some basic chess rules were overlooked, such as a player touching a rook before moving a king. However, the on-demand version on iPlayer, featuring commentary by David Howell, received praise. A related program, How to Win at Chess, was also well-received, offering tips from chess masters and even showcasing chess boxing. The third episode featured a new group of players, including 39-year-old Kel from Bolton, who is considered a frontrunner in the competition. In other chess news, Jonah Willow, a 22-year-old from Nottingham, performed notably in the European Championship in Romania. He scored 4 out of 6 against tough opponents and secured significant victories, including one against a higher-rated player. He is currently in contention for his second grandmaster norm. Young grandmaster Shreyas Royal, 16, has a current score of 3 out of 6, facing challenges against top competitors. Yang-Fan Zhou and Sohum Lohia are also competing but face difficulties in achieving their goals for grandmaster and international master norms.