“Chess might be one of the least expressive sports I have ever watched”

Coming from badminton and motorsport, Naganethra Reddy expected chess to feel quiet and hard to read. Watching the Global Chess League changed that: the drama was in the glances, pauses, and small gestures around the board, and in the stories shared through the commentary. Here’s what she thinks. | Pictured: Bibisara Assaubayeva | Photo: Global Chess League 2026