[1][2] He is a three-time British chess champion and was awarded the title of Grandmaster by FIDE in 1999 [citation needed].

He now works as an intellectual entrepreneur and civil society leader as co-founder and Chief Executive of Perspectiva.

[5] Rowson was Director of the Social Brain Centre at the RSA and writes for The Guardian's Behavioural Insights Blog, was formerly a columnist for the Herald newspaper, and has authored three books.

Rowson's peak rating of 2599 was achieved in July 2005, when he was ranked number 139 in the world.

[2][7] In addition to winning the British Championship in three consecutive years, Rowson's best results include sharing first at the World Open in Philadelphia in 2002,[8] at the Hastings Premier in 2003/4, and outright first at the Capo D'Orso open in Sardinia in 2008.