Record-breaking Chess Match in Indonesia Draws Over a Million Viewers on YouTube

The friendly chess match held in Indonesia on Monday between IM Irene Sukandar and Dadang Subur, also known as Dewa Kipas, has captured the attention of over a million concurrent viewers on YouTube. The match, organized by popular Indonesian actor and YouTuber Deddy Corbuzier, peaked at 1.25 million spectators, breaking records for live-streamed chess events.

The match was the culmination of a controversial story that began three weeks ago when Dadang Subur was accused of cheating by IM Levy Rozman during a game on Chess.com. Subur’s account was subsequently closed for violating fair play policies, leading to a viral protest by his son Ali Akbar and a wave of harassment towards Rozman.

Despite the controversy, Subur accepted the challenge to play against Sukandar in a match sponsored by Tokopedia and businessman Indra Kesuma. The match ended with Sukandar winning 3-0, with Subur making basic mistakes and Chess.com estimating his performance at a significantly lower level than his online rating.

The match has sparked renewed interest in chess in Indonesia, with both Sukandar and Rozman hoping to turn the negative episode into something positive. Sukandar noted a rise in sponsorships for chess events and a growing popularity of the game in the country.

Overall, the match between Sukandar and Subur has not only entertained viewers but also shed light on the importance of fair play and the potential for chess to attract a wider audience in Indonesia.