Is he too mean when he roasts players?

It's all in good fun. He roasts the moves, not the people. It's a specific brand of 'tough love' humor that most kids over 10 find hilarious rather than hurtful.

Are there ads or sales pitches?

Levy is a pro at monetization. You'll see sponsorships (Notion, etc.) and frequent plugs for his own courses and books. It's not predatory, but it's constant.

Is the content actually educational?

Surprisingly, yes. Even in his loudest videos, he's teaching opening principles, endgame tactics, and time management. It's 'stealth learning' at its best.

What about the YouTube comments?

Like any massive channel, the comments are a mixed bag. Levy's community is generally chess-focused, but it's still unmoderated internet territory. Better to watch on a big screen or with comments hidden.

GothamChess – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

GothamChess

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

YouTube2018

84%

WISE Score

7.0M

Subscribers

The man who made chess cool again by roasting bad moves and explaining Grandmaster logic with high-octane energy.

GothamChess

YouTube

2018

84%

WISE Score

7.0M

Subscribers

The man who made chess cool again by roasting bad moves and explaining Grandmaster logic with high-octane energy.

Jump to

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7.0M

Screenwise Verdict

If your kid is going to be on YouTube, GothamChess is about as good as it gets. Levy Rozman (Gotham) takes the stuffy, quiet world of chess and turns it into high-stakes, loud, hilarious entertainment without losing the educational value. It's basically a masterclass in logic disguised as a comedy show.

That said, it’s still YouTube. The sidebar is always trying to sell you something else, and Levy’s style is high-octane—think table slams and shouting about 'THE ROOOOOK.' It’s great, but it’s not exactly 'calm' content.

Age Fit

Best for ages 8 and up. Younger kids might play chess, but the speed of Levy's commentary and his sarcastic New York humor land much better with the middle-school-and-up crowd.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Fundamentally centered on chess, a game of logic and sportsmanship. While Levy's persona can be loud and 'roast-heavy,' it's all in the service of teaching and entertainment without being toxic.

Imaginative

Chess is a game of infinite possibilities and strategy. Levy encourages kids to visualize the board and think several steps ahead, though the format is more analytical than purely creative.

Safe

As a YouTube channel, it carries the inherent risks of the platform (unmoderated comments, algorithm rabbit holes). Levy's language is generally clean (PG-13 vibes), but his high-energy 'table slams' can be overstimulating.

Enriching

Top-tier educational content. It teaches critical thinking, pattern recognition, and resilience. He makes complex Grandmaster concepts accessible to beginners.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Master-level teaching that actually sticks because it's funny and fast-paced rather than a dry lecture.
Guess the Elo is a brilliant way for kids to learn from common mistakes by seeing others (hilariously) fail.
Deep coverage of world-class tournaments makes the elite chess world feel as exciting as the NBA or NFL.
High production value and tight editing mean kids won't get bored halfway through a 20-minute video.

⚠

What to Watch For

The 'Angry' Persona: Levy roasts bad moves aggressively for comedic effect. Sensitive kids might find the shouting or 'table slams' a bit much.
YouTube Algorithm: Even though his content is great, the sidebar is always one click away from brain-rot or unrelated weirdness.
Constant Upselling: He’s a businessman. Expect frequent (though honest) pitches for his Chessly courses and best-selling books.

Conversation Starters

"What was the 'brilliant' move in that game, and why was it so hard to see?"
"Why does Levy get so frustrated when people hang their queen?"
"Do you think his 'Guess the Elo' roasts are actually helpful for learning, or just funny?"
"If you played a game against Gotham, what Elo would he give you?"

Deep Dive

The Gotham Effect

Levy Rozman (GothamChess) is the biggest chess personality on the planet for a reason. He figured out that people don't just want to see the moves; they want to feel the drama. For a parent, this is a goldmine because it turns a high-utility skill like chess into something kids actually want to consume in their downtime.

His most popular series, Guess the Elo, is a perfect entry point. He reviews games sent in by low-rated players and roasts their mistakes. It sounds mean, but it’s actually a brilliant pedagogical tool—he explains why a move is bad in a way that sticks. If your kid is starting to get competitive, this is much more effective than a dry textbook.

He also does a great job covering top-tier tournaments. When Magnus Carlsen or Hikaru Nakamura play, Levy has a recap up within hours that makes the game feel like a Super Bowl highlight reel. It’s worth noting that he is an International Master (IM), so he knows his stuff, even if he plays up the 'angry New Yorker' persona for the camera. If they get really into it, he has a solid book called How to Win at Chess and a dedicated learning platform, Chessly, which are both high-quality but definitely not necessary to enjoy the channel.