Press Release

Chess Market to Hit USD3.3 Billion Mark by 2030 Due to Rising Popularity of Mind Sports

The Global Chess Market size was valued at around USD2.6 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD3.3 billion by 2030. Along with this, the market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of around 4.1% during the forecast period, i.e., 2025-30, cites MarkNtel Advisors in the recent research report. This growth is attributed to the multiple functionalities of chess, as it is not only considered a game but also a stress-relieving activity and a mind booster. As a result, various people play chess regularly in their free time, thus increasing the sales of chess boards.

Moreover, various countries have considered chess as a compulsory activity for school students. Armenia was the first country to do so, and it was followed by other regions as well including Mexico and some parts of China and Germany. Additionally, organizations such as “Chess in the Schools” further promote playing chess by teaching it to poor children in the schools of America. These efforts are done because chess is assumed to improve the mental ability, thinking power, memory, and IQ of the children. This leads to high sales of chess boards in bulk quantities. As various regions are continuously adopting this trend, the sales of chess boards will increase in the coming years.

Furthermore, smart chess boards that are equipped with advanced technologies have gained popularity in recent years. These chess boards eliminate the requirement of second players as the movement of one side will be automated with the help of AI or online players from global communities. Also, these boards can memorize the positions of pieces, thus allowing the completion of the game in various stages. Additionally, some smart boards can be connected to PCs and other software to reduce the staring time at the screen as the movements on screen are copied on the board in real time, thus providing a seamless experience. Therefore, chess has been popular due to its multiple functionalities, thus resulting in high sales of chess boards, and this trend is further fueled by various technological trends and promotions by various organizations, further states the research report, “Global Chess Market Analysis, 2025.”

Global Chess Market Segmentation Analysis

Wooden Chess Sets Hold a Major Market Share

Based on the product type, the market is further bifurcated into Wooden Chess Sets, Plastic Chess Sets, Glass Chess Sets, and Electronic Chess Sets. Here, wooden chess sets lead the market with a share of around 52%. The main reason behind this dominance is the high rigidity and durability of wood, which makes such products last longer. Moreover, wooden chess sets are defined as standard boards by organizations such as FIDE, which further increases their popularity. Furthermore, various wooden boards and pieces are made with premium craftsmanship, which makes them highly popular among chess collectors and enthusiasts.

Therefore, high durability, premium designs, and worldwide acceptance have been the major reasons behind the dominance of this segment, and this dominance is expected to remain in the future years as well.

North America Leads is the Epicenter of the Chess Industry Globally

Regionally, North America dominates the market with a market share of around 38%, and the US has been the major contributing country to this dominance. This is because various schools in the US promote chess as it improves the mental power and thinking skills of the students. Moreover, organizations such as ‘Chess in the Schools’ exist in this region, which further promote chess by teaching it to poor children for free of cost. Such efforts increase the popularity of chess and hence the sales of chess boards. Additionally, there are multiple collectors in this region, as it is a culture as old as the country itself, which increases the popularity of the premium crafted chess sets as well. Therefore, the high popularity and promotion of chess, fueled by a high number of collectors has been the main reason behind this region’s dominance.

Competitive Landscape

With strategic initiatives such as mergers, collaborations, and acquisitions, the leading market companies, including Chess House, JLP Woodworking, Naef, Millennium, DGT, The House of Staunton Inc., ChessBaron, Chessbazaar, Official Staunton, Chessncrafts, Shri Ganesh (India) International, CNCHESS, Giantchess, Wood Expressions, Worldwise Imports, and others are looking forward to strengthening their market positions.

Key Questions Answered in the Research Report

1. What are the industry’s overall statistics or estimates (Overview, Size- By Value, Forecast Numbers, Segmentation, Shares)?
2. What are the trends influencing the current scenario of the market?
3. What key factors would propel and impede the industry across the globe?
4. How has the industry been evolving in terms of geography & product adoption?
5. How has the competition been shaping up across the regions?
6. How have buying behavior, customer inclination, and expectations from products been evolving during 2020-30?
7. Who are the key competitors, and what strategic partnerships or ventures are they coming up with to stay afloat during the projected time frame?