Time has always been an element in chess, considering decision-making, but never to such a high degree as we see when talking about online chess.
If you traveled back in time and told someone during the first βboomβ of video games that in the future, the activity would be a viable career option, what do you think their reaction would be? Most likely, the idea would be dismissed, considering that games were not taken very seriously.
In the 70s and 80s (and even during part of the 90s), video games were seen not only as a hobby but as a hobby aimed at children. Things have changed over the years, with adults now representing, by far, the largest percentage of video game players.
On the virtual chessboard, every second counts. Unlike the traditional image of chess as a meticulous and slow-paced strategy game, the chess board online has elevated the importance of time to a new level.
With modes like Blitz Chess and Bullet Chess, where players have only a few minutes (or even seconds) for each move, the speed of thinking becomes just as crucial as the accuracy of the moves.
This more dynamic and electrifying format has attracted a broad audience and brought chess into the world of eSports, transforming the millennia-old battle of minds into a fast-paced and highly competitive contest.
The rise of eSports and video game events
Data from the Statista platform indicates that eSports are expected to reach a market value of nearly $5 billion by 2025, placing them among the most economically impactful competitive activities worldwide. In other words, it is a sporting activity that generates significant revenue for those involved.
The genres of games that host eSports competitions are diverse, ranging from fighting games and battle royales to MMORPGs, turn-based RPGs, sports games, and more. Over the years, as this field has grown in success, more games have secured a place in eSports championships, including chess.
The types of Blitz Chess and Bullet Chess and their rules
It is impossible to talk about “chess under pressure” without mentioning the Blitz and Bullet categories. Blitz is also known as “fast chess” since time control plays a more significant role in this format. Bullet is considered a version of Blitz, also focused on a reduced time per move.
In general, these two chess categories have time limits ranging from 3 to 5 minutes for players to complete their moves, with a 2-second increment per turn. By comparison, the more traditional type of chess allows for 10 to 15 minutes per game, with 10-second increments per move.
Speedruns, records and time pressure
Before we conclude by discussing chess as part of eSports, it is worth mentioning that the game has already incorporated time elements for decades, in the form of records and even “speedruns.” The latter term refers to strategies to complete a task in the game as quickly as possible.
In all cases, time pressure is present, and making “correct” moves is just as important as making quick moves. These become a way to view chess from a different perspective, seeing it less as a game of reflective thought and more as a game of quick decision-making.
The impact of technology on the growth of eSports
One of the factors that has driven the growth of eSports in recent years is technological advancement. With faster connections, optimized servers, and increasingly powerful hardware, electronic competitions have become more accessible and professional.
Live streaming has also played a crucial role, allowing millions of viewers to follow tournaments in real-time, further strengthening the community and the economy of the sector.
Platforms such as Twitch, YouTube Gaming, and Facebook Gaming offer players the chance to showcase their skills to the world, building solid careers as professional eSports athletes. This growth also attracts investments from major brands and sponsors, increasing tournament prizes and solidifying eSports as one of the most promising markets in digital entertainment.
Chess as an eSports category
The most valued type of gameplay within eSports competitions is the one that is more dynamic, where there is little to no time for the audience to lose interest. It is natural, then, that Blitz Chess and Bullet Chess succeed as competitions, given that every second counts.
As we have seen, Blitz Chess and Bullet Chess are just two categories of a much broader phenomenon, one that connects the fun of electronic games with the adrenaline and pressure of time. It is not surprising, then, that this idea is gaining more and more followers within the online gaming community.