Alexandra and Andrea Botez: who are the sisters who made chess go viral?

Alexandra Botez (born 1995) and Andrea Botez (born 2002) are two sisters born in Dallas, Texas, into a family of Romanian origin who later settled in Vancouver, Canada. Competitive players turned streamers, they run the BotezLive channel on Twitch and YouTube and are among the most followed chess personalities on the internet. Alexandra, a WFM, brings the technical expertise; Andrea, a WCM, brings the humour and spontaneity.

Updated on 5 October 2026 · By Delphine D., Le Palais des Échecs editorial team

Who are Alexandra and Andrea Botez? A portrait of the two sisters who changed chess

The duo runs the BotezLive channel, followed by a large audience on Twitch and YouTube. Alexandra, the elder, is the more highly titled player: WFM (Woman FIDE Master) with an Elo rating of around 2000. Andrea, her younger sister, is a WCM (Woman Candidate Master), with an Elo rating of around 1800.

Together, they have turned a live chess game into an entertainment format, watched by a far wider audience than that of traditional clubs. The breakthrough came in 2020, driven by two simultaneous phenomena: the Netflix series «The Queen’s Gambit» and the streaming boom during the pandemic. Their audience grew sharply during this period.

Childhood and learning chess: how it all began

Alexandra and Andrea Botez learned to play chess during childhood, within a family of Romanian origin who settled in Dallas and later in Vancouver, Canada. Both sisters competed in tournaments before turning to streaming: Alexandra earned the WFM title and Andrea the WCM title, two women’s titles awarded by the International Chess Federation (FIDE).

In the hierarchy of FIDE titles, the WCM ranks below the WFM, which in turn ranks below the WIM (Woman International Master) and the WGM (Woman Grandmaster). These distinctions reflect a level of play achieved in competition, long before the age of streaming.

As for many players, this learning process began with a simple chess board and family games. A starter chess set for under €200 remains a good starting point today for introducing a child under similar conditions.

Alexandra Botez: career, Elo rating and playing style

Alexandra Botez, born in 1995, holds the WFM title and has an Elo rating of around 2000 — the level of an accomplished player, well above the average club player. She launched the Twitch channel BotezLive, with a format that blends commentated games, teaching and personality.

On BotezLive, Alexandra embodies technical rigour: she explains her opening choices, comments on her mistakes and takes on other rated players. She provides the duo’s chess expertise, while her sister Andrea brings the energy and humour.

Andrea Botez: from player to content-creator phenomenon

Andrea Botez, born in 2002, holds the WCM title and an Elo rating of around 1800. By joining her sister’s channel, she gradually expanded her own role: starting out as a player, she became the personality who carries the entertainment side of BotezLive, with challenges, humour and a presence that goes well beyond chess-playing circles.

Born in 2002, Andrea is in her mid-twenties in 2026 — her exact age depends on the current month relative to her date of birth. She is also on Instagram under the handle itsandreabotez, where she shares more personal content alongside her streams.

The Botez sisters: are they really sisters, and who is the better player?

Yes, Alexandra and Andrea Botez are indeed sisters: they were born into the same family of Romanian origin, who settled in Dallas and later in Vancouver. In terms of playing strength, Alexandra is the stronger of the two, holding a higher title and Elo rating than Andrea; in terms of audience, the two sisters complement one another.

Elo ratings given for guidance only: they change as games are played.

The duo’s most famous moment remains the «Botez Gambit»: during a blitz game, Alexandra accidentally sacrificed her queen, an incident that became a meme shared well beyond the chess world. Other moments have marked their journey:

Why the Botez sisters made chess popular with a new audience

The Botez sisters have helped turn chess into a spectacle accessible to a young, connected audience, for several reasons.

We have observed a similar trend in our own business: since 2008, a growing proportion of our customers discover chess online before taking the step towards a real wooden set — boxwood, maple and walnut remain the most chosen woods for this first purchase. Chess has also diversified into other media formats, as shown in our article on chessboxing, where the game meets a very different audience.

Taking inspiration from the Botez sisters: which chess set to choose to play (and stream) like them

To play or film games in good conditions, three needs come up often: a set that is easy to carry, a polished look on screen, and a way to keep playing online without losing the pleasure of a real board.

Folding sets for playing anywhere

A folding chess board with built-in storage lets you set up a game in seconds, whether at home or on the move.

This folding wooden chess board with Staunton pieces and built-in storage closes like a book and protects the 32 pieces inside. A practical format for setting up a game on a streaming desk or taking it along when travelling.

See the folding chess board and Staunton set

Other folding formats are available depending on the size you are after: the folding alphanumeric chess board with storage, useful for recording moves as in a tournament, the more compact folding chess set and board, or the size 6 model for a larger board. The full selection can be found in the travel chess sets category.

Magnetic sets to avoid losing a piece during a stream

To stop a piece falling over during a filmed game or while travelling, a magnetic board keeps every piece securely in place.

This wooden magnetic travel chess set, with a built-in storage drawer, is available in three sizes depending on the space you have. The magnetised pieces stay in place, even on a desk that wobbles a little.

See the magnetic travel set

Other magnetic options: the magnetic travel set with carry case, the folding magnetic set or the magnetic Staunton set available in five sizes.

A fine wooden set for a polished look on screen

On video or in photos, a fine wooden chess board stands out far better than a plastic one: the grain and the contrast between the woods show clearly, even in close-up.

The Classic Staunton Set, with pieces in ebony and boxwood on a mahogany chess board, offers the crisp contrast and finish found on the finest tournament boards.

See the Classic Staunton Set

To explore this direction further, browse our fine wood chess sets and our chess boards.

Our full range of complete sets is in the complete chess sets (board and pieces) category, and all boards alone are in chess boards. Readers based in the United States, like the Botez sisters themselves, can also take a look at our overview of RegencyChess, a chess set distributor for the USA.

Frequently asked questions

How old is Andrea Botez?

Andrea Botez was born in 2002, making her in her mid-twenties in 2026. Her exact age depends on the current month relative to her date of birth.

How old is Alexandra Botez?

Alexandra Botez was born in 1995. She is seven years older than her sister Andrea.

Which of the two sisters is the elder?

Alexandra, born in 1995, is the elder. Andrea, born in 2002, is her younger sister.

Are Alexandra and Andrea Botez really sisters?

Yes. They are indeed sisters, born into the same family of Romanian origin who settled in Dallas and later in Vancouver, Canada.

Who is the better player, Alexandra or Andrea Botez?

By rating, Alexandra is the stronger player: she holds the WFM title and a higher Elo rating than Andrea, who holds the WCM title. Andrea remains a solid player in her own right, though her role in the duo leans mainly towards entertainment.

What is Andrea Botez’s Instagram account?

Andrea Botez is on Instagram under the handle itsandreabotez, where she posts personal content alongside her streams on Twitch and YouTube.