emilyplayschess Twitch VOD & Videos

Emily Higgins has become something of a phenomenon in the chess streaming world, proving that you don't need decades of experience to build a dedicated following. Known online as emilyplayschess, she's managed to turn her relatively recent chess journey into engaging content that resonates with both beginners and seasoned players. What makes her story particularly compelling is the timeline - she only started playing chess seriously in 2024, yet she's already achieved Twitch Partner status and built a community of over 8,000 followers.

Her rapid improvement tells a story that many chess enthusiasts find inspiring. Starting from a rating around 300, Emily climbed to over 1,300 in rapid chess through what she describes as a combination of coaching, strategy work, and most importantly, consistency. This isn't just number-crunching either - her journey from complete beginner to competent player happened in real-time on stream, giving viewers a front-row seat to the learning process. She's been open about the challenges, including the stress that comes with tournament play and balancing improvement opportunities with the pressure to perform.

Emily's streaming style focuses heavily on the educational aspect of chess, but not in a dry, lecture-hall way. Her content spans multiple platforms - Twitch for live streaming, YouTube for more structured educational content, and a growing Instagram presence with over 20,000 followers. She regularly brings on guests to help viewers learn, sharing concepts that have helped her own improvement. The fact that she's learning alongside her audience creates an authentic dynamic that's often missing from more established chess streamers who've been playing for years.

The numbers tell an interesting story about her community engagement. She maintains a consistent streaming schedule, primarily focusing on Monday through Wednesday evenings, and her recent statistics show she's averaging between 150-227 viewers per stream with peaks reaching over 1,000. For someone who's been streaming since August 2024, these numbers suggest she's found her niche. Her chat tends to be interactive, with viewers asking questions about positions and strategies, creating more of a collaborative learning environment than a one-way broadcast.

What's perhaps most remarkable about Emily's streaming career is how she's leveraged her beginner status as a strength rather than trying to hide it. While many streamers focus on high-level play or advanced theory, she's carved out space for the improving player - someone who understands the struggle of climbing from 300 to 1300 because she just did it herself. Her Diamond membership on Chess.com since July 2023 shows she was already engaged with the platform before becoming a content creator, suggesting this isn't just a business venture but a genuine passion project. As she continues to improve and her audience grows, it'll be interesting to see how her content evolves while maintaining that relatable, learning-focused approach that initially drew people in.