Budapest Chess Olympiad Smashes Viewing Records
The 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad, held in Budapest at the BOK Hall from September 10-23, attracted over 350 million viewers worldwide through online streaming. This marked a significant increase in viewership compared to the previous Chess Olympiad in India two years ago, with ten times as many viewers tuning in to watch the event in Budapest.
According to the National Event Management Agency (NRÜ), the official broadcasts by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) were watched by more than 135 million viewers, while 48 million users followed the events on Instagram and 45 million on TikTok. In India alone, the number of live viewers exceeded 228 million. Additionally, Hungarian-language coverage reached over one and a half million views on social media platforms. The event was covered by over 200 journalists and photographers from 58 countries who provided on-the-spot reports.
Mátyás Falvai, CEO of the NRÜ, emphasized the significance of the digital era in chess, stating, “Chess has clearly entered the era of digitalization, with most chess tournaments now being followed online around the world. This is why it was a priority for the organizers to reach as many people as possible around the world. As no chess event has ever been so widely watched, we can consider the Budapest Chess Olympiad a great success.”
The event not only showcased the growing popularity of chess but also highlighted Hungary’s readiness to host high-profile, technology-intensive events. The CEO added, “The record-breaking event showed the world’s sporting community and hundreds of millions of chess lovers that Hungary is ready to host a highly specialized, technology-intensive event.”
The Chess Olympiad is the main team event in the chess world, with teams from nearly every country competing every two years over 11 rounds. The event has a rich history, dating back to 1924, and the 2024 Budapest Chess Olympiad marked its 100th anniversary. Hungary hosted the competition for the second time since 1926.
In the 2024 Budapest Chess Olympiad, India emerged victorious in both the men’s and women’s events, while the top Hungarian men’s team finished 11th and the women’s team finished 14th.
Overall, the record-breaking viewership and success of the Budapest Chess Olympiad have solidified Hungary’s position as a prominent host for international chess events and showcased the global appeal of the game.
