Robert Hess

Robert Hess is an American Grandmaster and one of the most recognizable commentators in online chess. He became a GM at age 19, one of the youngest Americans to achieve the title at the time. As a player, he was a top junior in the United States and competed in multiple US Championships, reaching a peak FIDE rating of 2639 in 2012.

Hess transitioned into a full-time broadcasting career and is now a lead commentator for Chess.com. He covers major events including the Candidates Tournament, World Championship, Speed Chess Championship, and Titled Tuesday tournaments. His commentary style blends deep engine-level analysis with humor and accessibility, making complex games understandable for viewers at all levels.

Beyond Chess.com broadcasts, Hess has written for Chess Life magazine and contributed to chess education through articles and videos. He is known for his preparation and professionalism on stream, and his partnerships with other commentators like Daniel Naroditsky have become some of the most popular pairings in chess broadcasting. He graduated from Yale University in 2015 with a degree in history.