Julien Song: portrait of the player who popularized chess on YouTube
The answer in brief
Julien Song, born on March 1, 1993, in Paris, is a French International Master who has become one of the most followed figures in French-speaking chess on YouTube, with nearly 891,000 subscribers. A former strategy consultant, he left this profession in 2020 to dedicate himself entirely to chess, which he now teaches through educational videos, an online club with over 5,800 members, and still active competitive play, crowned in 2025 by a victory at the 19th Sèvres Open.
Few content creators have contributed as much as Julien Song to making chess accessible to the French-speaking general public. His journey, between professional retraining and online pedagogy, illustrates how streaming and YouTube have changed the way we discover and practice this game today. A portrait of a player who became, almost despite himself, an educational reference.
From business strategy to full-time chess
Before dedicating himself to chess, Julien Song worked as a strategy consultant at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), after studying at EM Lyon Business School. It was in April 2020, facing burnout, that he made the decision to leave this position to fully reorient himself towards the game of chess, which he had played since childhood and in which he obtained the title of International Master in 2013.
A YouTube channel that has become a French-speaking reference
It is on YouTube that Julien Song built most of his current notoriety, with a channel dedicated to teaching the game that now has nearly 891,000 subscribers. His content mixes game analyses, pedagogical advice, and the story of his own journey, a formula that has largely contributed to popularizing chess among an audience not limited to club players. Our article on chess on Twitch and YouTube elaborates on this phenomenon of the game's popularization through video.
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Discover →An online club and structured pedagogy
Beyond his YouTube channel, Julien Song runs an online chess club that brings together over 5,800 members, as well as a weekly newsletter, "Les Conseils du Samedi" (Saturday's Tips), which extends his pedagogy beyond the video format. This structure allows him to offer more regular support to a community of players that extends far beyond casual video viewing.
Still actively competing
Unlike other chess content creators who focus almost exclusively on video, Julien Song continues to play competitively. In February 2025, he won the 19th Sèvres Open, a tournament where he defeated several international masters, confirming that his transition to content creation has not come at the expense of his game practice. In February 2026, his classical Elo rating stood at around 2320 points, placing him 137th among active French players.
He has also taught the game internationally, notably at the Lycée Français International de Tokyo in December 2024, illustrating a pedagogical dimension that extends beyond his YouTube channel alone.
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Discover →Why his journey resonates so much with amateur players
Julien Song's success is partly due to his unusual career path: he is not a grandmaster at the top of the world rankings, but an international master who has managed to transform his passion into a pedagogical vocation, while remaining a competitive player himself. This proximity, between real expertise and an assumed personal journey, partly explains why his content reaches a much wider audience than just confirmed club players.
What to remember
Julien Song embodies a new generation of chess educators, who have gone through professional retraining rather than solely through the traditional competitive circuit. His YouTube channel, online club, and still active competitive play make him a representative figure of the recent popularization of the game through video and online platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Julien Song?
A French International Master born in 1993, who became a major figure in French-speaking chess thanks to his educational YouTube channel, after a career change from strategy consulting.
Does Julien Song still play competitively?
Yes, he remains active, with a victory at the 19th Sèvres Open in February 2025 and a classical Elo rating of around 2320 points in 2026.
What was Julien Song's profession before chess?
He worked as a strategy consultant at Boston Consulting Group, a position he left in 2020 to dedicate himself entirely to chess.
How many subscribers does Julien Song's YouTube channel have?
Around 891,000 subscribers, making it one of the most followed French-speaking chess channels.
Does Julien Song offer support beyond his YouTube videos?
Yes, he runs an online club with over 5,800 members and publishes a weekly newsletter called "Les Conseils du Samedi" (Saturday's Tips).
Has Julien Song ever taught chess abroad?
Yes, he notably taught at the Lycée Français International de Tokyo in December 2024.