Wikipedia

Andrea Botez

Andrea Cecilia Cristina Botez[1] (/ˈboʊtɛz/ BOH-tez; born April 6, 2002) is a Canadian chess player, commentator, DJ [2] and internet personality.[3] She is mostly known as part of the BotezLive Twitch channel with her sister Alexandra Botez. She is also credited as one of the creators who popularized chess on Twitch.[4]

Andrea Botez
Botez in 2022
CountryCanada
Born (2002-04-06) April 6, 2002 (age 22)
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
FIDE rating1831 (November 2024)
Peak rating1906 (June 2024)

Early life and background

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Botez's Romanian parents moved from Romania to Canada after Alexandra Botez, Andrea's older sister, was born in Dallas, Texas. The family relocated to Vancouver, British Columbia, before moving to Oregon when Alexandra was in high school.[5][6]

Chess career

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Botez began playing chess at the age of six. She started playing in the USChess tournaments at the age of seven. In 2010, she won the U8 Girls Canadian Youth Chess Championship.

In 2015, at the age of thirteen, she became the Women British Columbia Chess Champion.[7] In the same year, Botez also won the Susan Polgar National Open.[8][9]

In 2016, at the SPFNO 2016: U14 Girls, Botez placed fourth in the tournament[10][11] and 13th in the 2016 Susan Polgar Foundation Girls' Invitational.[12]

Botez attained her highest FIDE classical rating of 1906 in 2024 and her highest USChess rating of 1933 in 2019.[13] As of March 2024, her ranking among active players in the world is 65175, based on her rating.[14]

Content creation

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Alongside her sister, Botez runs the Twitch channel BotezLive, which, as of May 2022, has 1.1 million followers with more than 18.3 million views.[15] She began assisting her sister in 2020[16] by playing chess and in other variety streams and the YouTube channel BotezLive, which, as of May 2022, has over 800k subscribers and 140 million views.[17] She took a gap year to focus on streaming, before becoming a full-time streamer.[18]

She is credited, along with her older sister Alexandra Botez, Hikaru Nakamura, GothamChess, and more, for popularizing chess on Twitch.[4]

On December 21, 2020, Andrea and Alexandra signed a contract with Envy Gaming as content creators at the launch of the organization's creator network and ambassador program. They would later move to Los Angeles, CA, where they would join other content creators such as JustaMinx and CodeMiko in the Envy Content House.[19][20][21]

On July 20, 2022, Andrea and Alexandra signed with Creative Artists Agency. The agency will work with them on the development of original content, new IP ventures, and “strategic growth across platforms and talent”.[22]

In August 2022, it was announced that Andrea and Alexandra had joined OpTic Gaming after Envy Gaming announced the retirement of their Envy brand.[23]

In 2023, Andrea and Alexandra were named to Forbes' 30 Under 30 list in the games category.[24] Later in April 2023, they appeared on Rolling Stone's list of the 20 Most Influential Creators in 2023.[25] On July 13, 2024, she appeared in a MrBeast video titled "50 YouTubers Fight for $1,000,000".[26]

Botez Abroad

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Aside from their regular chess streams and other activities, the two sisters host a show on their Twitch channel called "Botez Abroad", a Twitch Original travel show where they travel to cities around the world and stream their in-person chess matches at various venues. The show has generated more than 20 million views and reached peak livestream viewership of 36,000 people.[22][27][5]

PogChamps

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In the second iteration of the online amateur chess tournament Pogchamps, Botez was part of the commentator team.[28] In 2021, Botez took part again in the Pogchamps 3 tournament, doubling as a coach for CodeMiko[29] and as a commentator,[30][31] and, once again, she joined the commentator team for Pogchamps 4.[32]

Boxing career

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Botez during Creator Clash 2 weigh-ins.

Creator Clash 2

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In April 2023, Botez lost a boxing match against fellow YouTuber Michelle Khare in Creator Clash 2, a charity boxing event held by YouTuber iDubbbz.[33][34]

Mogul Chessboxing Championship

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In December 2022, Botez competed against WGM (Woman Grandmaster) Dina Belenkaya in the Mogul Chessboxing Championship; hosted by Ludwig Ahgren.[35] Initially, Belenkaya was deemed the winner, but after a post-fight review, the organizer announced an updated result: "...[Botez] should have been awarded a TKO after the referee initiated the fourth standing count of the fight".[36] The update resulted in both Belenkaya and Botez being winners.[37]

Philanthropy

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In 2020, Botez participated in the Zoomers Play Chess team match to help raise funds for children in need affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.[38][39]

Personal life

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In 2020, Botez and her sister Alexandra Botez lived in New York.[5] In 2022, they moved and now reside in Los Angeles, California.[4]

In December 2023, Botez revealed during a livestream that she has been diagnosed with ADHD.[40]

Boxing record

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Exhibition

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1 fight 0 wins 1 loss
By knockout 0 0
By decision 0 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
1 Loss 0–1 Michelle Khare UD 5 Apr 15, 2023 Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida, U.S.

Chessboxing

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Chess boxing record
1 Fights, 1 Win (0 KOs, 1 TKO, 0 CMs)
Date Result Opponent Event Location Method Round Time
2022-12-11 Draw Dina Belenkaya Mogul Chessboxing Championship Galen Center, Los Angeles, California, U.S. Win 7
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

Awards and nominations

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Year Ceremony Category Result Ref.
2022 The Streamer Awards Best Chess Streamer Won [41]
2023 Nominated [42]
2024 Nominated [43]
Best Shared Channel Nominated

Listicles

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Publisher Year Listicle Result Ref.
Forbes 2023 30 Under 30: Games Placed [24]
Rolling Stone 2023 20 Most Influential Creators 4th [25]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "2024 BOTEZLIVE INVITATIONAL".
  2. ^ Andrea Botez's channel on YouTube
  3. ^ Hum, Peter (February 18, 2021). "Bringing Their A-Game". Montreal Gazette. Quebec, Canada. pp. NP8. Archived from the original on June 18, 2022. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c Polhamus, Blaine (July 14, 2022). "Who are the Botez sisters? History, Twitch earnings, more". Dot Esports. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "The Botez sisters became superstars playing chess on Twitch". Amazon Ads. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  6. ^ "Alexandra Botez: Stanford's first female Chess Club president". October 30, 2014. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  7. ^ "British Columbia Chess Federation". www.chess.bc.ca. Archived from the original on April 23, 2022. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  8. ^ "2015 Susan Polgar Foundation's National Open for Girls and Boys: U14 Girls Results". Daily Chess Musings. March 28, 2015. Archived from the original on August 4, 2021. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  9. ^ "The Susan Polgar Foundation's National Open for Girls and Boys Makes Chess History in California – Chessdom". www.chessdom.com. March 7, 2015. Archived from the original on June 19, 2022. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  10. ^ "Susan Polgar Foundation's National Open – Final Standings – Chessdom". www.chessdom.com. February 29, 2016. Archived from the original on June 19, 2022. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  11. ^ "- Complete Standings of 2016 SPFNO in San Mateo". March 2, 2016. Archived from the original on June 20, 2016. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  12. ^ "SPF Girls' Invitational concluded – Chessdom". www.chessdom.com. July 29, 2016. Archived from the original on July 28, 2021. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  13. ^ "Andrea Botez | Chess Celebrities". Chess.com. Archived from the original on May 4, 2022. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  14. ^ "Botez, Andrea". ratings.fide.com. Archived from the original on June 17, 2022. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  15. ^ "botezlive's Twitch Detailed Monthly Analytics - Social Blade LLC". socialblade.com. Archived from the original on June 19, 2022. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  16. ^ Leibowitz, Jessica (February 19, 2021). "This 25-year-old earns 6 figures playing chess on Twitch—here's how". CNBC. Archived from the original on June 18, 2022. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  17. ^ "BotezLive's YouTube Stats (Summary Profile) - Social Blade Stats". socialblade.com. Archived from the original on June 19, 2022. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  18. ^ Machlin, Tzvi (May 27, 2024). "Q&A With Twitch's Alex & Andrea Botez (BotezLive): Streamer Bowl IV, Super Bowl LVII, Eagles Fans, Chess, Twitch". The Spun. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  19. ^ Murray, Trent (December 21, 2020). "Envy Gaming Signs Chess Streamers Alexandra and Andrea Botez, Launch Content Creator Network". The Esports Observer. Archived from the original on June 18, 2022. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  20. ^ Radcliffe, Noam (January 19, 2022). "Envy Gaming Launches Female-Led Creator House with JustaMinx, Botez Sisters". DBLTAP. Archived from the original on February 11, 2022. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  21. ^ Collins, Sean (January 21, 2021). "Texas' Botez sisters are at the forefront of an unlikely, and booming, partnership: Chess and esports". Dallas News. Archived from the original on June 18, 2022. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  22. ^ a b Hale, James (July 20, 2022). "Chess streamers Alexandra and Andrea Botez make a move with CAA". Tubefilter. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  23. ^ Nash, Payton (August 24, 2022). "CodeMiko, JustaMinx, and Botez twins officially join OpTic Gaming". Dot Esports. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  24. ^ a b "Forbes 30 Under 30 2023: Games". Forbes. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  25. ^ a b "The 20 Most Influential Creators Right Now". Rolling Stone. April 28, 2023. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  26. ^ Brigstock, Jake (June 6, 2024). "Who are all the influencers in MrBeast's 'biggest video ever'?". Indy100. Archived from the original on June 7, 2024. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  27. ^ Botez Abroad: Chess Travel Show Trailer. BotezLive. November 6, 2021. Archived from the original on July 26, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022 – via YouTube.
  28. ^ BEST OF POGCHAMPS 2 feat. Botez Sisters, Hikaru, xQc & more. BotezLive. August 29, 2020. Archived from the original on June 19, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022 – via YouTube.
  29. ^ Chess lesson but my student won't stop moaning... BotezLive. February 12, 2021. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2022 – via YouTube.
  30. ^ xQc/Sardoche/BenjyFishy/Daniel Negreanu Pogchamps 3 Action!. Chess.com. February 24, 2021. Archived from the original on June 19, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022 – via YouTube.
  31. ^ Botez, Andrea [@itsandreabotez] (August 30, 2021). "COMMENTATING POGCHAMPS WITH THE LOVELY @Anna_Chess https://t.co/oeZOpy2iBR" (Tweet). Archived from the original on June 19, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022 – via Twitter.
  32. ^ Team (CHESScom), Chess com (September 11, 2021). "PogChamps 4: All The Information". Chess.com. Archived from the original on October 27, 2021. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  33. ^ "Creator Clash 2 results: Alex Wassabi takes decision over iDubbbz, John Hennigan knocks out Harley Morenstein". The Sporting News. April 16, 2023.
  34. ^ Hale, James (March 16, 2023). "Michelle Khare and Andrea Botez to duke it out at Creator Clash 2 (Exclusive)". Tubefilter. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  35. ^ Millar, Schuyler (December 9, 2022). "Ludwig brings Chessboxing to the world of content creation with the Mogul Chessboxing Championship". mysuncoast. Archived from the original on December 14, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  36. ^ Levin, Anthony (December 13, 2022). "Andrea Botez Awarded TKO In Mogul Chessboxing Championship, 2 Winners". Chess. Archived from the original on December 13, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  37. ^ Mukherjee, Shreyan (December 13, 2022). "Andrea Botez gets her loss overturned against Dina Belenyaka at the Mogul Chessboxing Championship". sportskeeda. Archived from the original on December 14, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  38. ^ "Zoomers Set For Hand & Brain ChessTV Takeover This Saturday". Chess.com. April 11, 2020. Archived from the original on June 19, 2022. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  39. ^ "Andrea Botez - Botez Sisters Chess Streamer (Chess Profile)". May 22, 2022. Archived from the original on May 22, 2022. Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  40. ^ Andrea Gets Diagnosed, December 8, 2023, retrieved December 8, 2023
  41. ^ Miceli, Max (February 22, 2022). "All nominees for QTCinderella's Streamer Awards". Archived from the original on April 21, 2022. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  42. ^ Snavely, Adam (March 11, 2023). "Streamer Awards 2023: All results and winners for every category". Dot Esports. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  43. ^ Michael, Cale; Taifalos, Nicholas (February 18, 2024). "Streamer Awards 2024: All results and winners for every category". Dot Esports. Gamurs. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
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