Popular chess YouTuber Levy 'GothamChess' Rozman is science-focused esports organization BASILISK’s new Head of Chess, where his operational roles will include developing content, recruiting new players and building STEM-adjacent programming.
Rozman moves to BASILISK in good shape. His YouTube channel sits at eight million subscribers and has 5.9 billion total views in the bag, making him one of the most-watched chess creators in the world, and he still dreams of becoming the Grandmaster. Speaking exclusively to Dexerto, he explained what drew him to BASILISK: "I really like BASILISK. I like the team, I like everybody that they've signed. In many ways, it's super cool that we're kind of making nerds cool and fun. That's what I've done the last five or six years on my YouTube channel, so I'm super pumped to make content with everybody."
A roster built for the nerds
BASILISK's chess lineup is already stacked and includes Grandmasters Anish Giri and Vincent Keymer. Aside from chess, the organization has also signed StarCraft 2 champions Reynor and Serral, along with fighting game legend Justin Wong. It's a deliberately cross-discipline roster built around strategic thinking and STEM identity, philosophy Rozman fits to a tee.
Before you get too excited, Rozman won't be competing. His role is purely creative and operational. Ultimately, he’ll be tasked with developing projects that connect chess with broader STEM culture. He also raised the possibility of youth programs designed to bring more children into the game.
Taking down Magnus Carlsen
Rozman was clear about his competitive north star for BASILISK's players. "Unfortunately, part of that is that you have to take down Magnus Carlsen," he told Dexerto. "Now, that would be epic."
That goal is to get a shot at Carlsen at the Esports World Cup, where the Norwegian world No.1 has become a dominant figure in competitive chess. Among chess fans, Magnus's standing is something close to mythology, with commenters describing a player so far ahead of the field that opponents have been known to second-guess the obvious move, fearing it's a trap even when he blunders. Beating him at a major event would be a genuine statement for any organization.
Not that Rozman thinks the path will be easy. "Luckily, I don't actually have to play the games. I can just sort of root on the sidelines," he joked.
What this means for BASILISK's chess ambition
BASILISK already has the player talent in Giri and Keymer. Adding Rozman as Head of Chess gives the org a content engine and a talent pipeline that most competitive chess rosters simply don't have access to, while his reach across YouTube and streaming platforms will give them promotional leverage beyond traditional esports audiences.
Rozman also hinted at ambitious crossover programming involving figures from STEM and strategic games like Magic: The Gathering and StarCraft. Those kinds of collaborations fit naturally into a multi-game org built around competitive intelligence, and they could help BASILISK carve a distinct identity in a crowded esports landscape.
He was candid about his ambitions for the role: "I really want to accomplish a lot. That was part of my excitement with joining. I had a lot of ideas, and they didn't make it seem like any of them were impossible."
The Grandmaster title remains on hold
GothamChess: “I Want to Become a GM”
— Endgame AI (@EndgameaiChess) May 3, 2026
On April 23, 2024, Levy Rozman, better known as GothamChess and one of the biggest voices of Chess com, officially restarted his Road to GM journey, calling the Grandmaster title his “unfinished business.”
After stepping away from serious… pic.twitter.com/fKhKXiVMHO
One thing worth noting is Rozman's own pursuit of the Grandmaster title. His desire to win it is no secret — earlier this year, he spoke about how The Grandmaster title “for me has been the biggest failure and the biggest shortcoming and the biggest point of frustration for my entire life” — but it’s hard to imagine how stepping into a full organizational role will improve his personal chess development. Whether he can balance Head of Chess duties and climb up the rating ladder is an open question.
For BASILISK, this is a bold — and potentially ingenious — hire. Rozman's has the kind of content credibility and chess knowledge that’s rare, and pairing that with Keymer and Giri on the competitive side gives the organization a legitimate shot at contention for the Esports World Cup. BASILISK's EWC chess campaign is the clearest measuring stick for whether this signing delivers on its potential.
