Lots of factors built the base that was able to turn the interest from Queen's Gambit into a lasting and growing phenomenon.
I'm not sure if The Queen's Gambit is popular viewing with the 11-14 year olds obsessing over chess in my local middle school.
Twitch? Yes.
They had to stand up four separate chess clubs because one club with 300 members (about half the student body) was too much to handle.
So now there are intense intra-school rivalries like with Hogwarts houses-- never mind inter-mural competition.
But in general, yes, YouTube streamers are making the sport more popular.
His style is not for my taste, nothing wrong with the guy.
Because everyone is a boxer already.