Eric Hansen

Eric Hansen is a Canadian Grandmaster, Twitch streamer, chess commentator, and the co-founder and CEO of Chessbrah. Born on May 24, 1992, in Calgary, Alberta, Hansen earned his GM title in 2013 and has been a two-time Canadian Champion. He is widely recognized as one of the early pioneers who brought chess to digital platforms.

Hansen co-founded Chessbrah alongside GM Aman Hambleton, building it into one of the most recognizable chess entertainment brands on the internet. The Chessbrah channels on Twitch and YouTube have accumulated hundreds of thousands of followers, known for their blend of high-level blitz, banter, music, and an irreverent attitude that helped reshape what chess streaming could look like. Hansen also played in the PRO Chess League since its inaugural 2017 season as both player and team manager.

Beyond streaming, Hansen has become a sought-after voice on chess and technology. In March 2026, he spoke at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference on a panel titled "Patient Zero: What Chess Teaches Us About a Superhuman AI World," alongside Google DeepMind researchers and Philadelphia 76ers president Daryl Morey. He continues to commentate at top-level events and offers private coaching at /hour through Lichess.

Hansen holds a FIDE standard rating of 2609, a rapid rating of 2536, and a blitz rating of 2543. He studied at the University of Texas at Dallas on a chess scholarship before dedicating himself full-time to competitive play and content creation.