Top 10 Anime Characters Who Would Be Chess Grandmasters

Anime is full of genius strategists, mind-game masters, and calm thinkers who would destroy most people in a chess match. Whether they’re fighting titans, saving worlds, or outsmarting villains, some characters think like true grandmasters. Here are ten anime characters who would dominate the chessboard, ranked countdown style.

 

 

10. Kurisu Makise (Steins;Gate)

Kurisu’s intelligence, emotional control, and ability to process complex data make her a perfect chess player. She’d analyze opponents like a scientist, noticing patterns and weaknesses in seconds. Every move would be precise, efficient, and brilliant. Kurisu wouldn’t just play chess, she’d redefine how it’s played.

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9. Levi Ackerman (Attack on Titan)

Levi might not look like a “chess guy,” but his fighting style proves he’s a tactical genius. He studies patterns, calculates risks, and strikes at the perfect moment. Levi wouldn’t talk during the game, he’d just stare, make a move, and somehow you’d already be in checkmate before you realized what happened.

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8. Izaya Orihara (Durarara!!)

Izaya treats people like chess pieces, moving them around just to watch how they react. That kind of manipulative genius would make him a terrifying chess player. He’d never play for fun, only to get inside your head and make you doubt every move you make. Against Izaya, losing wouldn’t even be the worst part, it’s realizing he made you lose exactly how he wanted.

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7. Senku Ishigami (Dr. Stone)

Senku’s mind is built for logic. He’d calculate every possible line of play faster than most chess engines. His scientific precision and calm under pressure would make him unbeatable in long games. If chess was about combining science and strategy, Senku would be the reigning champion of the world.

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6. Erwin Smith (Attack on Titan)

Commander Erwin was a leader who could plan entire wars like a giant chess match. His ability to sacrifice pieces (and people) for the win was cold, logical, and pure strategy. On a chessboard, Erwin wouldn’t hesitate to give up a queen if it meant capturing your king. He plays to win, no emotion, just results.

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5. L (Death Note)

L is Light’s perfect rival, and their entire battle is basically one long chess match. His unorthodox thinking and ability to read people make him a master of mental warfare. He’d be that player who looks half-asleep, eats cake mid-game, and still crushes you with a quiet “checkmate.”

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4. Sora and Shiro (No Game No Life)

This sibling duo lives for strategy. They’ve beaten everything from card games to gods, so a chessboard would feel like child’s play to them. Sora and Shiro don’t just win, they humiliate opponents with impossible, galaxy-brain moves. They would treat a chess match like an art performance.

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3. Shikamaru Nara (Naruto)

Shikamaru might be lazy, but don’t let that fool you. This guy’s IQ is off the charts. He’s famous for turning losing situations into victories with a single clever move. Chess fits his personality perfectly, it’s quiet, strategic, and lets him beat people without breaking a sweat. His catchphrase would probably be, “What a drag… checkmate.”

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2. Lelouch vi Britannia (Code Geass)

Lelouch is the definition of a chess mastermind. In Code Geass, he literally plays chess as a way to test strategies for real-world wars. His calm confidence and ruthless logic make him unstoppable on the board. If there were a world championship for anime chess, Lelouch would win it without breaking a sweat.

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1. Light Yagami (Death Note)

Light Yagami is basically a walking chess computer. His ability to predict every opponent’s move and stay ten steps ahead makes him the ultimate mind gamer. If Light ever sat down for a real chess match, he’d already have planned every move before the clock even started. Just don’t let him hold the notebook while you play, or you might not make it to your next turn.

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Final Move

Whether it’s Light’s genius or Shikamaru’s effortless logic, these anime minds prove that chess isn’t just a game, it’s a mindset. Each of them would bring their own style to the board, from scientific precision to ruthless tactics.

 

 

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