Dark Squares: How Chess Saved My Life

Synopsis

In this &“heart-breaking, hilarious, ultimately transcendent&” (Jeannette Walls) memoir, International Master and Chess.com co-founder Danny Rensch describes his upbringing in an abusive cult – and how chess ended up saving his life Born into the Church of Immortal Consciousness, Danny Rensch spent his childhood navigating the isolated confines of a cult. Despite psychological manipulation, physical abuse, and neglect, he persevered. An international chess master and world-class commentator, Rensch&’s remarkable journey led him to being the face of Chess.com, one of the largest online gaming platforms in the world. With unflinching honesty, Rensch recounts his life, starting from the moment he discovered chess in the summer of 1995, all the way up to being at the center of the most explosive cheating scandal in chess history. He chronicles the traumas of being &“special&” in a cult that forced separation from his mother. Mentored by an alcoholic, Russian chess master, he found solace alongside suffering in his obsession for an ancient game, and chess became his only escape. Rensch rose through the chess ranks until a medical emergency nearly took him out of the game forever. And it almost did, until Chess.com came along. Deeply heartfelt, keenly reflective, and haunting, Dark Squares is the never-before-told story of Danny Rensch&’s resilience, survival, and his enduring love for the game that saved him.

Copyright:

2025

Book Details

Book Quality:

Publisher Quality

ISBN-13:

9781541703308

Related ISBNs:

9781541703285

Publisher:

PublicAffairs

Date of Addition:

09/16/25

Copyrighted By:

Daniel Michael Rensch

Adult content:

No

Language:

English

Has Image Descriptions:

No

Categories:

Nonfiction, Biographies and Memoirs, Religion and Spirituality, Business and Finance, Psychology

Submitted By:

Bookshare Staff

Usage Restrictions:

This is a copyrighted book.