Esports organization BASILISK has announced the signing of high-profile Chess content creator Levy ‘GothamChess’ Rozman as Head of Chess.
A YouTube content creator and Twitch streamer, GothamChess recently acted as both an analyst and caster at the Esports World Cup Chess tournament, which saw Magnus Carlsen retain his EWC title.
As Head of Chess, Rozman will lead a brand new global chess content strategy for BASILISK and develop the team’s long-term competitive and impact initiatives.
Rozman, an International Master and 2353 Elo-rated Blitz player, joins top-10 Grandmasters Vincent Keymer and Anish Giri in the organization, adding social media reach to the organization’s competitive offerings.
Rozman has over 8 million subscribers on YouTube, where his videos have generated over 5.9 billion views, also authoring a New York Times bestselling book, ‘How to Win at Chess: The Ultimate Guide for Beginners and Beyond.’
“I am dreaming big with what we will create together, the kind of content that has never been made before in chess,” said Rozman. “BASILISK is like a renaissance of nerds. We are making nerdy games and nerdy activities cool, and bringing them to the mainstream.”
#1 chess creator on Earth 🌎
Levy Rozman is our new Head of Chess
Welcome to BASILISK, @GothamChess! pic.twitter.com/dCZiD7plqZ
— BASILISK (@BASILISK_gg) August 26, 2026
BASILISK describes itself as ‘Science’s Esports Team’, focusing on titles such as StarCraft II, Magic: The Gathering, and Chess in the belief that those games provide additional benefits to players. In a statement following the signing, Rozman reflected on how Chess expands the mind:
“The benefits of playing chess are immeasurable,” said Levy Rozman. “You are going to have to learn focus, patience, and how to regulate your emotions. Chess can be brutal because it exposes your worst tendencies. But if you stick with it, chess improves your brain and your character. “
Rozman continued, “It cultivates critical thinking, encourages you to understand what another person wants, and it makes you think through the consequences of your choices. I think everyone should play chess.”
Christopher Bothur, CEO of BASILISK, celebrated the signing, stating, “Levy has a rare ability to take something as complex and intimidating as chess and make it accessible and genuinely entertaining for hundreds of millions, if not billions, of people around the world.
“His success demonstrates the enormous global appetite for content that makes you smarter. This approach aligns perfectly with BASILISK’s mission, and we’re thrilled to have Levy develop audacious new chess content.”
Chess and esports have become increasingly more linked over the last few years, accelerated by the addition of Chess to the Esports World Cup in 2025. The addition saw a spree of chess players join esports organizations, including World Number 1 Magnus Carlsen, who joined Team Liquid in April 2025.
Can Rozman’s knowledge of the scene help BASILISK become a Chess powerhouse? Let us know on the Insider Gaming Discord.
For more coverage, see our interview with FUT CS2 Coach Coolio at EWC 2026. And for even more Insider Gaming delivered directly to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter.
Darragh is an Esports Journalist for Insider Gaming specialising in Counter-Strike. He loves to explore how esports teams work, or why they very often do not.
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