YouTuber GothamChess’s ‘How to Win’ book banned from Speed Chess Championship

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Chess fans were surprised to discover that YouTuber GothamChess’s book, ‘How to Win at Chess,’ is banned from being used—either in print or digitally—during the Speed Chess Championship Finals.

The final match of the Speed Chess Championship will be held in London on February 7th and 8th. However, the list of items fans aren’t allowed to bring is causing some concern among those planning to attend.

The event’s Google Doc FAQ lists items prohibited inside the venue. While things like animals, weapons, and illegal drugs are understandably not allowed, other items are also banned – probably because they could be disruptive to players. These include things like noisemakers and laser pointers.

The list of banned items surprisingly includes “How to Win at Chess” by Levy Rozman, who is popular on YouTube as GothamChess with over 7 million subscribers. This decision has surprised and confused many in the chess world, leading to a lot of debate.

Speed Chess Championship bans GothamChess’s book from venue

A book that was removed from a platform led to a conversation on Reddit, with people wondering why GothamChess’s guide for new players had been banned.

“Must be some kind of joke,” one said.

Levy Rozmans ‘How to win at Chess’ is on the banned items list at the 2026 Speed Chess Championship in both its digital and physical format.
byu/JamesHayes101 inchess

Someone wondered if Daniel Levy would be attending the event, suggesting the organizers might be trying to avoid a large number of people requesting autographs from him.

Despite some discussion, the book ‘Chess for Babies’ by Levy Rozman is still available in both print and digital versions, according to one person.

We don’t know exactly why the book was banned. It’s possible the ban was a publicity stunt, especially since the author, Rozman, has another chess book coming out in 2026.

The rules don’t offer any extra hints. The only banned item with a specific explanation is anything used to communicate with players.

We encourage fans to bring signs to show their support! However, we may review signs to ensure they don’t unfairly promote any particular player, as stated in our frequently asked questions.

So far, the YouTuber and occasional “food blogger” hasn’t responded to his book being banned.

The Speed Chess Championship Finals are looking to be a thrilling competition, featuring top players like Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura. Both Carlsen and Nakamura have consistently dominated the championship, winning it every year since 2016.

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2026-01-19 22:19