Professional Athletes Can’t Get Enough of Chess.com
Social media is a minefield for pro sports players. But online chess offers rankings, instant analysis, wholesome interactions and few trolls.
Illustration: Lee Kyutae for Bloomberg
Last summer, Will Palmer, a 28-year-old consultant, ran into one of the world’s most famous soccer players in the lobby of a hotel in downtown Pittsburgh. Mohamed Salah, an Egyptian winger for Liverpool FC, was in town for a preseason exhibition match when Palmer spotted him sitting with a couple of teammates.
A lifelong Liverpool fan, Palmer was thrilled, but he didn’t want to ask for a selfie or an autograph. He knew that Salah loved chess, though: In a 2023 interview, Salah said he played every day online. So Palmer, who also plays regularly, opened a chessboard on his laptop and conspicuously held the screen where Salah could see it. To his surprise, Salah waved him over and handed Palmer his phone so he could add himself as a friend on the Chess.com app.