Anna Cramling On Chess, Life Choices And Mean Comments

Faced with tough questions while hooked up to the polygraph, WFM Anna Cramling was forced to reveal her true feelings about her career path, her grandmaster parents, the dark side of fame... And then she was caught in a lie.

After IM Anna Rudolf, the popular Hungarian commentator, player, and content creator, answered a series of questions from Cramling in the previous episode of "Lie Detector Chess," it was time for her to put Cramling to the test. All while carefully monitored by polygraph controller Orjan Hesjedal.

Would she pass, or would the lie detector expose her true feelings?

Twenty-two-year-old Cramling from Sweden is one of the chess world's most popular content creators, boasting millions of followers across social media and YouTube. She also streams on Twitch to her 450,000 followers. 

Once again, it started off on a light-hearted note, with Anna forced to admit that her infamous creation, The Cow, isn't any good.

"I've played chess my whole life, and having knights on the sides of the board isn't necessarily good. It's easy to kick them away. So, it's an opening that has good characteristics, but maybe it's not a good opening in terms of chess strategy," she said while noting that at least you don't need to know much theory, and the opening is easy to remember.

Faced with a more serious question on whether she ever regretted the career path, she responded:

"I don't think I at all regret becoming a streamer. I love what I do and I absolutely love doing content and I can't see myself doing anything else. But I think that there's a little part in me that kind of wonders what would've happened if I would've taken a different path in life."

I love what I do and I absolutely love doing content and I can't see myself doing anything else. But I think that there's a little part in me that kind of wonders what would've happened if I would've taken a different path in life.

—Anna Cramling

Speaking about Anna's career path was a perfect opportunity to ask about her rivalry with Andrea Botez, fellow content creator and streamer. When asked if she thought she was the better chess player, Cramling responded confidently, “Yes.”

The polygraph confirmed her honesty. "I haven't played her in classical chess, but I think she's good with time control. However, in terms of chess knowledge, I would probably guess that I have more. I'm sorry, Andrea, if you're watching this," Cramling laughed.

The 22-year-old comes from a true chess family, with both parents being grandmasters. Her mother is GM Pia Cramling, a true legend of the game and one of the strongest female players in history. Her father, GM Juan Manuel Bellon Lopez, is also a grandmaster. That hasn't all been positive, she revealed.

"One of the comments that I get the most is, "Oh, Anna has two grandmaster parents, but she's only 2100 or whatever." I know I've spent a lot of time on content, and I've chosen a different path, and I'm happy I have. But there's a part of me that wishes I would have maybe studied more or tried harder to get a higher rating before I started streaming. But I know I can still do it. I'm still young and I can still gain rating," she said.

Most beautiful location to play chess in!! pic.twitter.com/II5VJMRYe8

— Anna Cramling (@AnnaCramling) July 28, 2024

The test took a more serious turn when Rudolf asked whether she had ever cried because of a mean comment from a viewer.

“Yes,” she admitted, with her voice softening. The lie detector confirmed her sincerity. “I try to remind myself that people who write mean comments are probably unhappy themselves. But it’s hard not to let it get to you, especially when you see the same negative comments repeated by many people.”

I try to remind myself that people who write mean comments are probably unhappy themselves. But it’s hard not to let it get to you, especially when you see the same negative comments repeated by many people.

—Anna Cramling

Having a million followers has also come with a price, as the weird side of fame includes unsolicited fan requests. Like marriage proposals. Yes, you heard that right.

"It’s just like, I’m playing chess! You don’t know me! It’s weird, but I think most people do it as a joke. I don’t think they’re seriously hoping I’d say yes. It’s not the worst thing, but it’s definitely weird."

The supportive other Anna chimed in about her own experiences with such requests, saying: "It’s very creepy. Don’t do it!"

Until now, the lie detector hadn't raised the red flag on any of Cramling's answers. However, that changed after Rudolf asked about her feelings about chess itself: "Do you sometimes hate playing chess?"

Cramling quickly responded, “No.” However, the lie detector thought otherwise, with polygraph controller Hesjedal raising the red flag: “That’s a lie!”

Caught somewhat off-guard, she responded: “I really thought I said ‘no’ convincingly. But I sounded so insecure about my answer, which is the worst thing to do when you're sitting in a lie detector test!”

She then elaborated with a sentiment that many chess players can relate to: "I think the times I hate playing chess are when I feel like I'm playing badly. I can get really tilted with myself. And also, when I feel a lot of pressure, it feels like more than just a game. I don't like that. But chess is a game I really enjoy, especially like this. It’s the competitive pressure that I sometimes love and hate."

I think the times I hate playing chess are when I feel like I'm playing badly. I can get really tilted with myself. And also, when I feel a lot of pressure, it feels like more than just a game. I don't like that. But chess is a game I really enjoy, especially like this. It’s the competitive pressure that I sometimes love and hate.

The two Annas followed in the footsteps of other chess personalities who took the polygraph test, such as IM Levy Rozman, who took one in January before GMs Magnus Carlsen and David Howell appeared in April. Previously, even GM Hikaru Nakamura appeared with Chess.com's own IM Danny Rensch.

We're still looking to make more "Lie Detector Chess" videos. Who else would you like to see? Be honest!