Eric Hansen
Canadian · 1992–present · Grandmaster
Eric Hansen — 'Chessbrah' — is a Canadian GM who brought chess to millions of new fans through Twitch streaming and YouTube, pioneering an unfiltered, entertaining format that helped spark the global chess boom.
Career Overview
Eric Hansen is a Canadian grandmaster who earned his GM title in 2013 and went on to become one of the most influential chess content creators in the world. As one of the founders of the ChessBrah brand alongside IM Aman Hambleton, Hansen pioneered chess streaming on Twitch, creating an irreverent, entertaining format that attracted a new generation of chess fans. His aggressive, tactical style translates naturally to fast time controls where he excels. Hansen has represented Canada at multiple Chess Olympiads and remains one of the most recognizable personalities in online chess.
Playing Style
Favourite Openings as White
B20–B99Open Sicilian / English Attack
Hansen favors aggressive Anti-Sicilian systems and the English Attack, seeking sharp, tactical battles from the very first moves.
C20–C29King's Gambit
A Hansen favorite in bullet and blitz — the King's Gambit creates immediate tactical complexity that suits his attacking style perfectly.
Favourite Openings as Black
B09Pirc Defense
Hansen enjoys the Pirc Defense for its dynamic counterplay potential — inviting White to advance, then counterattacking sharply.
B20–B49Sicilian Defense (various)
As Black against 1.e4, Hansen is comfortable in many Sicilian lines, adapting to the opponent's system and creating imbalances early.
Career Highlights
- ✦Grandmaster title awarded 2013
- ✦Co-founder of ChessBrah, one of the most popular chess YouTube and Twitch channels
- ✦Represented Canada at Chess Olympiad (2012, 2014, 2016)
- ✦Multiple Canadian Chess Championship competitor
- ✦Pioneer of chess streaming on Twitch before the global chess boom
What You Can Learn from Eric Hansen
- →Chess streaming can help you improve — watching GM decision-making in real time builds intuition fast
- →Aggressive, entertaining play is still strong play — Hansen's games prove that tactical chess wins at high levels
- →Chess is fun: the ChessBrah content reminded the community that enjoyment and excellence can coexist
- →Bullet and blitz training builds pattern recognition that transfers to longer time controls
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ChessBrah?
ChessBrah is a chess brand created by Eric Hansen (GM) and Aman Hambleton (IM). They pioneered chess streaming on Twitch with an unfiltered, entertaining format. Their 'Can't Stop, Won't Stop' bullet series and blitz streams attracted millions of viewers and helped popularize online chess before the global boom.
What is Eric Hansen's chess rating?
Eric Hansen's peak FIDE classical rating is around 2634. He performs significantly stronger at faster time controls, consistently competing at GM level in blitz and bullet tournaments.
Where is Eric Hansen from?
Eric Hansen was born in the United States but represents Canada in international chess competition. He has played at multiple Chess Olympiads for Canada.
Train Like Hansen
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