BOOK EXCERPT: Checkmate: Scandal, cheating and the billion-dollar rise of chess
Chess isn’t just a game – it’s a battlefield of mind-bending stakes, where the champions who emerge victorious ascend into the gilded halls of a multimillion-dollar dynasty. In this world, winning is everything – no matter the cost. Bestselling author Ben Mezrich explores the chess empire in his latest book, Checkmate.
In the book "Checkmate: Scandal, cheating and the billion-dollar rise of chess," author Ben Mezrich explores the world of chess and the controversy surrounding the 2022 Sinquefield Cup tournament. The story focuses on the sudden defeat of chess legend Magnus Carlsen by teenager Hans Niemann, which threatened to unravel Carlsen's undefeated run of fifty-three consecutive in-person games.
The two players were placed across from each other at polished wooden tables in a makeshift gaming hall within a converted vodka bar, adjacent to the St Louis Chess Club. Carlsen, the reigning champion and the highest-ranked chess player in the world, appeared bewildered and visibly distressed as he faced off against Niemann, a younger player with a FIDE Elo ranking of 2650.
Carlsen, widely considered the greatest player of the millennium, had achieved numerous accolades throughout his career, including five World Championship titles and a FIDE Elo rating of 2882. He had amassed a fortune from sponsorships, his chess app, and an Oslo stock exchange valuation of over $100 million. However, amidst his success, he was now facing defeat at the hands of a seemingly unprepared and distracted opponent, Hans Niemann.
Niemann, aged 19, was a relative newcomer to the chess scene, having entered the tournament as a last-minute replacement. Despite Carlsen's dominance and Niemann's lack of preparation, the outcome of the game was far from certain, leaving Carlsen questioning his abilities and the future of his chess empire.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
