Dark Squares

A cult leader, a child prodigy and the chess revolution

Danny Rensch

$34.99

Paperback

Forthcoming
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English

WILDFIRE
01 October 2025

Biography; Memoirs; Aspects of religion (non-Christian); Chess

Educated meets The Queen's Gambit in this extraordinary memoir by International Master and Chess.com co-founder Danny Rensch, who 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.

By: Danny Rensch
Imprint: WILDFIRE
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 153mm,
ISBN: 9781035404636
ISBN 10: 103540463X
Pages: 368
Publication Date: 01 October 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Danny Rensch is an international chess master, world-renowned chess broadcaster and commentator, and Chief Chess Officer for Chess.com. Rensch was a seven-time all-American chess player and a national scholastic chess champion on multiple occasions. He became the youngest chess master in Arizona history and today lives in Utah with his wife and four children.

Reviews for Dark Squares: A cult leader, a child prodigy and the chess revolution

A fantastic read! Danny Rensch's story is inspiring, fascinating, and at times heartbreaking. His wild ride from a difficult and traumatic childhood to becoming one of the most influential people in the history of chess will keep you turning pages way past bedtime. Compelling and unique, a deep dive into the chess world through the eyes of someone who is at the center of it all! -- Ben Mezrich, NY Times bestselling author of The Accidental Billionaires, Bringing Down The House, and Dumb Money Great men overcome great obstacles - and I haven't been this inspired by an underdog story in a long time. Taken from his mother, raised in a cult, Danny rose to the very pinnacle of the chess world - and then the business world. A must read. -- Bobby Hall (aka Logic), #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of Supermarket