Gotham Chess Inspires Chess Enthusiasts at University of Florida Event

Levy Rozman, also known as GothamChess, made a special appearance at the University of Florida last Saturday, captivating a crowd of chess enthusiasts with a one-hour lecture, a Q&A session, and an all-comers blitz challenge. The event, dubbed Gotham Chess @ UF, was a collaboration between Rozman, Chess.com, and the Gator Chess Club, and it drew such a large crowd that registrations had to be closed days before the event due to reaching capacity.

Rozman, who has amassed a huge following online with over five million subscribers on YouTube and 2.9 billion views, has become one of the most sought-after chess personalities in recent years. He has spoken at Google headquarters, released a best-selling book, and established the Levy Rozman Scholarship Fund. His presence at the University of Florida highlighted his commitment to promoting chess, especially among college students.

During his lecture, Rozman shared personal stories from his chess journey and imparted valuable lessons from his games to the audience. Despite facing setbacks in his career, Rozman emphasized the importance of perseverance and encouraged attendees to pursue their passions, whether in chess, content creation, or other areas.

The highlight of the event was the blitz challenge, where Rozman took on five lucky players. While the first four games ended in his favor, the final opponent, Derek Zhang, managed to defeat him for the second time, creating excitement among the audience and potentially setting the stage for a future YouTube video featuring the two players.

As Rozman looks ahead to 2025, he teased a mystery project and the release of a Netflix documentary based on the Magnus Carlsen/Hans Niemann saga, hinting at an eventful year to come. With his continued efforts to bridge the gap between secondary school and college chess players, Rozman’s impact on the chess community, particularly among students in the U.S., remains significant.