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Checkmate: Genius, Scandal and the Billion-Dollar Rise of Chess
From the bestselling author of The Accidental Billionaires and Bringing Down the House comes the cinematic true story about the biggest scandal in modern chess.
In September 2022, the unthinkable nineteen-year-old American chess prodigy Hans Niemann defeated world champion Magnus Carlsen in a stunning face-to-face match. Within days, Carlsen accused Niemann of cheating—a bombshell allegation that rocked the chess world. As the scandal spiraled, Chess.com—the dominant force in online chess—launched a high-stakes investigation igniting a global media firestorm.
But Checkmate is about more than a cheating scandal. It’s the story of a teenager willing to risk everything to rise to the top; a reclusive genius suddenly fighting to protect his legacy; and a centuries-old game transforming into a billion-dollar industry fueled by streaming, sponsorships, and Silicon Valley power players.
With exclusive access to the central figures, Ben Mezrich takes readers deep inside the weird, wild, and cutthroat world of competitive chess—where genius meets ambition, and every move could be your last.
In September 2022, the unthinkable nineteen-year-old American chess prodigy Hans Niemann defeated world champion Magnus Carlsen in a stunning face-to-face match. Within days, Carlsen accused Niemann of cheating—a bombshell allegation that rocked the chess world. As the scandal spiraled, Chess.com—the dominant force in online chess—launched a high-stakes investigation igniting a global media firestorm.
But Checkmate is about more than a cheating scandal. It’s the story of a teenager willing to risk everything to rise to the top; a reclusive genius suddenly fighting to protect his legacy; and a centuries-old game transforming into a billion-dollar industry fueled by streaming, sponsorships, and Silicon Valley power players.
With exclusive access to the central figures, Ben Mezrich takes readers deep inside the weird, wild, and cutthroat world of competitive chess—where genius meets ambition, and every move could be your last.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 2, 2026
About the author
Ben Mezrich
45 books1,505 followersBen Mezrich has created his own highly addictive genre of nonfiction, chronicling the amazing stories of young geniuses making tons of money on the edge of impossibility, ethics, and morality.
With his newest non-fiction book, Once Upon a Time in Russia, Mezrich tells his most incredible story yet: A true drama of obscene wealth, crime, rivalry, and betrayal from deep inside the world of billionaire Russian Oligarchs.
Mezrich has authored sixteen books, with a combined printing of over four million copies, including the wildly successful Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions, which spent sixty-three weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, and sold over 2 million copies in fifteen languages. His book, The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, a Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal – debuted at #4 on the New York Times list and spent 18 weeks in hardcover and paperback, as well as hit bestseller lists in over a dozen countries. The book was adapted into the movie The Social Network –written by Aaron Sorkin and directed by David Fincher – and was #1 at the box office for two weeks, won Golden Globes for best picture, best director, best adapted screenplay, best score, and was nominated for 8 Oscars, winning 3 including best Adapted Screenplay for Aaron Sorkin. Mezrich and Aaron Sorkin shared a prestigious Scripter Award for best adapted screenplay as well.
With his newest non-fiction book, Once Upon a Time in Russia, Mezrich tells his most incredible story yet: A true drama of obscene wealth, crime, rivalry, and betrayal from deep inside the world of billionaire Russian Oligarchs.
Mezrich has authored sixteen books, with a combined printing of over four million copies, including the wildly successful Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions, which spent sixty-three weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, and sold over 2 million copies in fifteen languages. His book, The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, a Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal – debuted at #4 on the New York Times list and spent 18 weeks in hardcover and paperback, as well as hit bestseller lists in over a dozen countries. The book was adapted into the movie The Social Network –written by Aaron Sorkin and directed by David Fincher – and was #1 at the box office for two weeks, won Golden Globes for best picture, best director, best adapted screenplay, best score, and was nominated for 8 Oscars, winning 3 including best Adapted Screenplay for Aaron Sorkin. Mezrich and Aaron Sorkin shared a prestigious Scripter Award for best adapted screenplay as well.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
June 16, 2026
I never expected to describe a book about competitive chess as fast, scandalous, and occasionally unhinged. And yet...
Checkmate follows the controversy that erupted after nineteen-year-old Hans Niemann defeated world champion Magnus Carlsen at the 2022 Sinquefield Cup. Within days, Carlsen accused Niemann of cheating, launching a scandal involving Chess.com, tournament officials, online investigators, enormous egos, and, at one point, a theory involving anal beads. Yep.
I love it when Ben Mezrich takes on nonfiction because he writes with the urgency of a thriller. Rather than simply walking through the facts, he turns the people involved into complicated characters making risky decisions that could destroy their careers and reputations.
The book also reveals just how much drama exists in competitive chess. Carlsen is a legacy trying to protect itself. Niemann is a wildly ambitious young player determined to make a name for himself fast. Chess.com is a powerful company with a billion-dollar stake in shaping the game’s future. Everyone has something to protect, which makes the story about much more than one suspicious match.
The ending gets a little meta, and I’m still not convinced that choice was necessary. But I got over it quickly because the book was already so compelling.
Whether you follow competitive chess or not, Checkmate is incredibly readable and packed with modern chess-world chaos. It’s hard to imagine a more entertaining way to revisit the whole mess.
4.5 out of 5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for an advanced reader’s copy; all opinions expressed are my own.
Checkmate follows the controversy that erupted after nineteen-year-old Hans Niemann defeated world champion Magnus Carlsen at the 2022 Sinquefield Cup. Within days, Carlsen accused Niemann of cheating, launching a scandal involving Chess.com, tournament officials, online investigators, enormous egos, and, at one point, a theory involving anal beads. Yep.
I love it when Ben Mezrich takes on nonfiction because he writes with the urgency of a thriller. Rather than simply walking through the facts, he turns the people involved into complicated characters making risky decisions that could destroy their careers and reputations.
The book also reveals just how much drama exists in competitive chess. Carlsen is a legacy trying to protect itself. Niemann is a wildly ambitious young player determined to make a name for himself fast. Chess.com is a powerful company with a billion-dollar stake in shaping the game’s future. Everyone has something to protect, which makes the story about much more than one suspicious match.
The ending gets a little meta, and I’m still not convinced that choice was necessary. But I got over it quickly because the book was already so compelling.
Whether you follow competitive chess or not, Checkmate is incredibly readable and packed with modern chess-world chaos. It’s hard to imagine a more entertaining way to revisit the whole mess.
4.5 out of 5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for an advanced reader’s copy; all opinions expressed are my own.
June 1, 2026
Ben Mezrich’s books are always fun, fast-paced reads, and this one was no different.
This book is very entertaining and accessible even to those who are not familiar with the world of chess.
This book is very entertaining and accessible even to those who are not familiar with the world of chess.
June 12, 2026
A battle Of The egos.
Read
April 1, 2026One of the hallmarks of any Ben Mezrich book is the quantity and quality of “inside baseball” he brings to any story. Checkmate is no exception. Mezrich uses a dual plotline surrounding a chess match in September 2022 between the reigning World Champion, Magnus Carlsen, and an up-and-coming teenager, Hans Niemann. The drama begins to flow with a startling upset of Carlsen by Nieman and is quickly followed by Carlsen’s public allegations that he believed that Nieman was guilty of additional instances of cheating at chess, including in-person chess, beyond the online cheating Nieman had previously admitted to.
Wrapped up in this intense drama is the story of the growth of Chess.com, an online website, led by Danny Rensch and Erik Allebest. Mezrich details the growth of Chess.com grew from a small Silicon Valley startup to what is now the largest online chess site. Chess.com becomes a player in the drama because of its investigation and release of an extensive report detailing Nieman’s history of online cheating. As you might imagine, it did not take long for a lawsuit to follow.
Just as he did in The Accidental Billionaires and Bringing Down the House, Mezrich combines both business-related information and history with more arcane topics like chess, blackjack, and social networks. The result is a compelling read.
There’s history (both of chess and Silicon Valley), drama (cheating accusations, lawsuits, high profile chess competitions), and development of the personalities of rather eccentric people from the chess world. In particular, in exploring the psyches of Carlsen and Nieman, Mezrich’s portrayal of these two characters reminds me of two classic books about one of the all-time greats (if not the greatest chess player ever) Bobby Fischer: Endgame: Bobby Fischer’s Remarkable Rise and Fall by Frank Brady, and Bobby Fischer Goes to War by David Edmonds and John Eidinow.
While I would have preferred more discussion and development from a technical point of view of the actual chess games involved, my sense is that Mezrich did not want to slow down the action and detract from the drama he was trying to build by focusing on the vagaries of the specific strategies and tactics employed by Carlsen and Nieman.
If you liked They Marched Into Sunlight by David Maranis or Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson and their multi-level stories, you’ll enjoy Mezrich’s treatment of a chess cheating scandal that rocked the quiet, somber chess world in 2022.
Thank You to Hachette Book Group and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Wrapped up in this intense drama is the story of the growth of Chess.com, an online website, led by Danny Rensch and Erik Allebest. Mezrich details the growth of Chess.com grew from a small Silicon Valley startup to what is now the largest online chess site. Chess.com becomes a player in the drama because of its investigation and release of an extensive report detailing Nieman’s history of online cheating. As you might imagine, it did not take long for a lawsuit to follow.
Just as he did in The Accidental Billionaires and Bringing Down the House, Mezrich combines both business-related information and history with more arcane topics like chess, blackjack, and social networks. The result is a compelling read.
There’s history (both of chess and Silicon Valley), drama (cheating accusations, lawsuits, high profile chess competitions), and development of the personalities of rather eccentric people from the chess world. In particular, in exploring the psyches of Carlsen and Nieman, Mezrich’s portrayal of these two characters reminds me of two classic books about one of the all-time greats (if not the greatest chess player ever) Bobby Fischer: Endgame: Bobby Fischer’s Remarkable Rise and Fall by Frank Brady, and Bobby Fischer Goes to War by David Edmonds and John Eidinow.
While I would have preferred more discussion and development from a technical point of view of the actual chess games involved, my sense is that Mezrich did not want to slow down the action and detract from the drama he was trying to build by focusing on the vagaries of the specific strategies and tactics employed by Carlsen and Nieman.
If you liked They Marched Into Sunlight by David Maranis or Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson and their multi-level stories, you’ll enjoy Mezrich’s treatment of a chess cheating scandal that rocked the quiet, somber chess world in 2022.
Thank You to Hachette Book Group and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 7, 2026
In any competitive endeavor where the stakes are high, periodic episodes of cheating are inevitable. Those knowledgeable about American sports history will recall the 1919 Black Sox Scandal and the point-shaving scandals of the 1950s in college basketball. More recently, the University of Michigan football program suffered severe NCAA sanctions when its illegal scouting of future opponents came to light.
The game of chess has been around for some 1,500 years, and in that time it has had its share of cheating scandals. The colorful, at times shocking, story Ben Mezrich tells with verve in CHECKMATE is an engaging one about a pair of starkly different personalities --- one of whom occupied the pinnacle of the chess world for years, and another so desperate to supplant him that he may have resorted to improper means to do so. It's a story that has captured the imagination of people far beyond the world of chess. There's a Netflix documentary about it that debuted in April 2026, and a feature film in development with A24, produced by Emma Stone and directed by Nathan Fielder.
When he appeared in September 2022, at St. Louis's Sinquefield Cup, one of the most prestigious tournaments in American chess, 31-year-old Norwegian "Mozart of chess" Magnus Carlsen --- the youngest Grandmaster ever at age 13, winner of 53 consecutive classical matches, and five-time World Champion --- was the dominant figure in world chess.
Calrsen’s third-round opponent was American-born Hans Niemann, only 19 years old, who had spent much of the previous two years traveling the world alone, painstakingly raising his world ranking to No. 40. The two had met in a speed chess tournament in Miami several weeks earlier, sponsored by the soon-to-be notorious cryptocurrency firm FTX, where Niemann, surprisingly, had won a single game from his much more prominent opponent.
After his stunning defeat in the first game in St. Louis, made more shocking by the fact that Niemann played the black pieces, Carlsen withdrew from the tournament and posted a tweet strongly insinuating that his opponent had cheated. An improbable actor --- a railroad conductor and professional internet troll in Liverpool, England --- fashioned a tweet that accused Niemann of using "anal beads" to be tipped on his moves and pull off his upset. The scandal exploded when Elon Musk, not yet the owner of the social media platform but an omnipresent poster, retweeted it.
Complicating all of this was the role of the website Chess.com and its principals, Erik Allebest and Danny Rensch. At the time of the Sinquefield Cup, the site, grown to a valuation of $1 billion, was about to acquire Carlsen's app Play Magnus for $80 million and make the Norwegian star the face of its brand. But as Mezrich reveals, Niemann had a complicated history with Rensch and his company, dating all the way back to his online playing as a 12-year-old and an episode of cheating that earned him a suspension from play.
In the wake of Carlsen's withdrawal, the story of Niemann's alleged cheating spiraled out of control, eventually producing a report from Chess.com that raised substantial questions about his past conduct. That triggered a $100 million lawsuit from Niemann against Carlsen and the company for slander and antitrust violations. Even in the absence of a definitive resolution of the claims, it seemed, Niemann was destined to wear a scarlet "C" as he moved through the world of big-time chess.
In his well-paced account, Mezrich --- the author of 13 works of nonfiction, including THE ACCIDENTAL BILLIONAIRES, which was transformed by Aaron Sorkin into the film The Social Network --- understands that he's not writing for an audience of chess aficionados. As a result, he's far less interested in the intricacies of any game than he is in the emotional dynamics of his idiosyncratic characters. Carlsen comes across as a stolid, workmanlike practitioner, almost inseparable from his father, Henrik, his trusted advisor. Niemann, an admirer of the controversial chess great Bobby Fischer, is a mercurial loner, whose explosive personality is well-suited to the demands of the online world, but far less so to the decorous world of chess. The contrast, as Mezrich portrays it, could not be more striking.
Near the end of CHECKMATE, Mezrich indulges in a brief, somewhat disconcerting meta-nonfictional detour in which he identifies himself as the most unreliable narrator in a story teeming with them. "Because as good as he was at endearing himself to his main characters, Ben was just as easily smitten by them," he writes of himself. "He was motivated to believe everything they told him, because it was his goal to tell the story through their eyes, as they saw it."
So readers looking for a reporter to assume the mantle of prosecutor or defense attorney won't find one here. Mezrich does a capable job gathering and presenting the evidence on both sides of the argument over the claims of Niemann's cheating, but he leaves it to us to render the final judgment. It's impossible to know if he had more access to Niemann in the course of his reporting, but one senses that his sympathies tilt in the younger man's direction.
CHECKMATE culminates with a match between Carlsen and Niemann in Paris in September 2024 at Chess.com's Speed Chess Championship. It was the first time the pair had faced each other in more than two years. Mezrich effectively captures the circus atmosphere surrounding that event, one that feels like a shootout on a dusty Western street between two experienced gunslingers. As he reveals here, the game of chess requires both intellectual acuity and a distinctive psychological makeup to succeed at its highest level. As well as anyone could ask, Mezrich illuminates those aspects of the human mind and heart and the drama of expert competition in this propulsive story.
Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg
The game of chess has been around for some 1,500 years, and in that time it has had its share of cheating scandals. The colorful, at times shocking, story Ben Mezrich tells with verve in CHECKMATE is an engaging one about a pair of starkly different personalities --- one of whom occupied the pinnacle of the chess world for years, and another so desperate to supplant him that he may have resorted to improper means to do so. It's a story that has captured the imagination of people far beyond the world of chess. There's a Netflix documentary about it that debuted in April 2026, and a feature film in development with A24, produced by Emma Stone and directed by Nathan Fielder.
When he appeared in September 2022, at St. Louis's Sinquefield Cup, one of the most prestigious tournaments in American chess, 31-year-old Norwegian "Mozart of chess" Magnus Carlsen --- the youngest Grandmaster ever at age 13, winner of 53 consecutive classical matches, and five-time World Champion --- was the dominant figure in world chess.
Calrsen’s third-round opponent was American-born Hans Niemann, only 19 years old, who had spent much of the previous two years traveling the world alone, painstakingly raising his world ranking to No. 40. The two had met in a speed chess tournament in Miami several weeks earlier, sponsored by the soon-to-be notorious cryptocurrency firm FTX, where Niemann, surprisingly, had won a single game from his much more prominent opponent.
After his stunning defeat in the first game in St. Louis, made more shocking by the fact that Niemann played the black pieces, Carlsen withdrew from the tournament and posted a tweet strongly insinuating that his opponent had cheated. An improbable actor --- a railroad conductor and professional internet troll in Liverpool, England --- fashioned a tweet that accused Niemann of using "anal beads" to be tipped on his moves and pull off his upset. The scandal exploded when Elon Musk, not yet the owner of the social media platform but an omnipresent poster, retweeted it.
Complicating all of this was the role of the website Chess.com and its principals, Erik Allebest and Danny Rensch. At the time of the Sinquefield Cup, the site, grown to a valuation of $1 billion, was about to acquire Carlsen's app Play Magnus for $80 million and make the Norwegian star the face of its brand. But as Mezrich reveals, Niemann had a complicated history with Rensch and his company, dating all the way back to his online playing as a 12-year-old and an episode of cheating that earned him a suspension from play.
In the wake of Carlsen's withdrawal, the story of Niemann's alleged cheating spiraled out of control, eventually producing a report from Chess.com that raised substantial questions about his past conduct. That triggered a $100 million lawsuit from Niemann against Carlsen and the company for slander and antitrust violations. Even in the absence of a definitive resolution of the claims, it seemed, Niemann was destined to wear a scarlet "C" as he moved through the world of big-time chess.
In his well-paced account, Mezrich --- the author of 13 works of nonfiction, including THE ACCIDENTAL BILLIONAIRES, which was transformed by Aaron Sorkin into the film The Social Network --- understands that he's not writing for an audience of chess aficionados. As a result, he's far less interested in the intricacies of any game than he is in the emotional dynamics of his idiosyncratic characters. Carlsen comes across as a stolid, workmanlike practitioner, almost inseparable from his father, Henrik, his trusted advisor. Niemann, an admirer of the controversial chess great Bobby Fischer, is a mercurial loner, whose explosive personality is well-suited to the demands of the online world, but far less so to the decorous world of chess. The contrast, as Mezrich portrays it, could not be more striking.
Near the end of CHECKMATE, Mezrich indulges in a brief, somewhat disconcerting meta-nonfictional detour in which he identifies himself as the most unreliable narrator in a story teeming with them. "Because as good as he was at endearing himself to his main characters, Ben was just as easily smitten by them," he writes of himself. "He was motivated to believe everything they told him, because it was his goal to tell the story through their eyes, as they saw it."
So readers looking for a reporter to assume the mantle of prosecutor or defense attorney won't find one here. Mezrich does a capable job gathering and presenting the evidence on both sides of the argument over the claims of Niemann's cheating, but he leaves it to us to render the final judgment. It's impossible to know if he had more access to Niemann in the course of his reporting, but one senses that his sympathies tilt in the younger man's direction.
CHECKMATE culminates with a match between Carlsen and Niemann in Paris in September 2024 at Chess.com's Speed Chess Championship. It was the first time the pair had faced each other in more than two years. Mezrich effectively captures the circus atmosphere surrounding that event, one that feels like a shootout on a dusty Western street between two experienced gunslingers. As he reveals here, the game of chess requires both intellectual acuity and a distinctive psychological makeup to succeed at its highest level. As well as anyone could ask, Mezrich illuminates those aspects of the human mind and heart and the drama of expert competition in this propulsive story.
Reviewed by Harvey Freedenberg
June 20, 2026
This is good. Possibly better than a 3-star, but it is incredibly niche. It is also dry and a bit tedious. Half the book takes place before the game, and we spend way too much time with the guys involved with Chess.com. Danny and Erik have little to do with the overarching drama, but we spend huge amounts of time in the weeds with them instead of with the two Chess Masters. There were chunks I was bored because we were too busy talking about Danny's kids, or a home gym, or a failed business deal, or a previous business venture. It dragged.
It also dragged because not enough time has gone by. This happened only 4 years ago now, less at the time of writing. Honestly, they can't prove Hans cheated. The overarching question, the final thing, he even mentions it at the end of the book. Hans denies it vehemently, Chess.com only has statistical abnormalities. We've all been forced to ignore "statistical abnormalities" when it comes to our elections, that simply isn't enough to prove anything. We need Hans's accomplice to speak out, we need something more substantial.
I was shocked the Chess.com algorithm couldn't be put to use for over-the-board chess. It seemed like we needed to explain why they couldn't plug in the annotation and see exactly what they see for their online users.
The book was also a bit . . . soft(?) when it came to it's treatment of Chess.com and Magnus.
For all intents and purposes, Chess.com has created a monopoly on online chess, and they are the judge, jury, and executioner when it comes to things like cheating. They are also the only ones overseeing anything. There is no third-part or outside source to hold them accountable. People have the same problem when the NFL polices itself. If they claim you cheated, you no longer have any foot to stand on and they have the ability to ruin a young person's life of playing chess. Chess.com controls the world of online chess, and they lack checks and balances to police exactly what Hans claims is happening to him.
Simultaneously, Magnus Carlson is not some pristine golden boy who can do no wrong. He has also flaunted rules and decorum, and expected the chess world to cater to him. He wore jeans to a suit only event and they had to change the rules to accommodate him. Is it honorable and above reproach to show up to your match with only seconds on the clock as a power move to distract your opponents? There are plenty of videos of him playing chess drunk, hardly an honorable and perfect man that everyone should just believes what he says.
Magnus accused Hans without proof, and Chess.com immediately took Magnus's side because they had just paid 90 million dollars to acquire Magnus's brand. Some of what Hans was saying made a lot of sense, and they were never able to actually find proof.
The problem here, just like in all sports, winning and losing games does not make anyone right or wrong. Winning does not make one moral, and losing does not make them immoral. Chess does not speak for itself. Chess players are not honorable and above reproach, they are human beings, they make mistakes, they have bad moments, and they have good moments. Hans could have cheated, he also could have had a flash of inspiration while Magnus had a bad moment. These things happen, and without proof, it seemed like Magnus overacted and then Chess.com took sides where they should have stayed out of it.
There is so much more scandal and intrigue within the chess world. Ben Mezrich never even went into the corruption of FIDE, and why they are never even a part of this. He never really discussed cheating in the past (he mentions it only briefly), nor does he mention anything to do with gambling. What are the very real chances people are throwing matches for various reasons?
This was good, but I would have like a little harder hitting investigative journalism.
It also dragged because not enough time has gone by. This happened only 4 years ago now, less at the time of writing. Honestly, they can't prove Hans cheated. The overarching question, the final thing, he even mentions it at the end of the book. Hans denies it vehemently, Chess.com only has statistical abnormalities. We've all been forced to ignore "statistical abnormalities" when it comes to our elections, that simply isn't enough to prove anything. We need Hans's accomplice to speak out, we need something more substantial.
I was shocked the Chess.com algorithm couldn't be put to use for over-the-board chess. It seemed like we needed to explain why they couldn't plug in the annotation and see exactly what they see for their online users.
The book was also a bit . . . soft(?) when it came to it's treatment of Chess.com and Magnus.
For all intents and purposes, Chess.com has created a monopoly on online chess, and they are the judge, jury, and executioner when it comes to things like cheating. They are also the only ones overseeing anything. There is no third-part or outside source to hold them accountable. People have the same problem when the NFL polices itself. If they claim you cheated, you no longer have any foot to stand on and they have the ability to ruin a young person's life of playing chess. Chess.com controls the world of online chess, and they lack checks and balances to police exactly what Hans claims is happening to him.
Simultaneously, Magnus Carlson is not some pristine golden boy who can do no wrong. He has also flaunted rules and decorum, and expected the chess world to cater to him. He wore jeans to a suit only event and they had to change the rules to accommodate him. Is it honorable and above reproach to show up to your match with only seconds on the clock as a power move to distract your opponents? There are plenty of videos of him playing chess drunk, hardly an honorable and perfect man that everyone should just believes what he says.
Magnus accused Hans without proof, and Chess.com immediately took Magnus's side because they had just paid 90 million dollars to acquire Magnus's brand. Some of what Hans was saying made a lot of sense, and they were never able to actually find proof.
The problem here, just like in all sports, winning and losing games does not make anyone right or wrong. Winning does not make one moral, and losing does not make them immoral. Chess does not speak for itself. Chess players are not honorable and above reproach, they are human beings, they make mistakes, they have bad moments, and they have good moments. Hans could have cheated, he also could have had a flash of inspiration while Magnus had a bad moment. These things happen, and without proof, it seemed like Magnus overacted and then Chess.com took sides where they should have stayed out of it.
There is so much more scandal and intrigue within the chess world. Ben Mezrich never even went into the corruption of FIDE, and why they are never even a part of this. He never really discussed cheating in the past (he mentions it only briefly), nor does he mention anything to do with gambling. What are the very real chances people are throwing matches for various reasons?
This was good, but I would have like a little harder hitting investigative journalism.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for the ARC!
In September 2022, the chess world is rocked when World Champion Magnus Carlsen is defeated by nineteen year old Grandmaster Hans Niemann. Checkmate explores the cheating allegations, the digital transformation of the game itself, and those who will risk everything to rise to the top.
This book pulled me in from the first page and the momentum did not stop. Right away we're pulled into the moment that sparked the cheating scandal—a seemingly bored teenager defeats who is considered the greatest chess player of all time without so much as breaking a sweat. Ben Mezrich continues to keep this story entertaining, and at times even sobering, as we learn about these people, what drove them to where they are today as well as the events that followed this momentous tournament.
So much is being threatened by the rise of technology and chess is no exception. A hub for all things online chess, with interest growing during the pandemic and the release of The Queen's Gambit, Chess.com has cemented itself as its own player in the chess community. The story gives a lot of insight into how Chess.com grew from a small startup to the largest online chess site, as well as the minds behind it. Touching on the dynamics of online chess compared to in person chess and the challenges being faced with new technologies and cheating strategies, and how we can combat that moving forward.
This story touches on so much—the drama, the history, eccentric characters—and while chess is at the heart of this story, Ben Mezrich has crafted something so compelling it can be enjoyed by anyone. While I think this story is a must for chess fans, you don't need to know how chess works to understand the stakes.
In September 2022, the chess world is rocked when World Champion Magnus Carlsen is defeated by nineteen year old Grandmaster Hans Niemann. Checkmate explores the cheating allegations, the digital transformation of the game itself, and those who will risk everything to rise to the top.
This book pulled me in from the first page and the momentum did not stop. Right away we're pulled into the moment that sparked the cheating scandal—a seemingly bored teenager defeats who is considered the greatest chess player of all time without so much as breaking a sweat. Ben Mezrich continues to keep this story entertaining, and at times even sobering, as we learn about these people, what drove them to where they are today as well as the events that followed this momentous tournament.
"A 2860 Elo against a 2650.
White pieces against black.
The number one player in the world against the fortieth.
It couldn't be real. Something else had to be going on."
So much is being threatened by the rise of technology and chess is no exception. A hub for all things online chess, with interest growing during the pandemic and the release of The Queen's Gambit, Chess.com has cemented itself as its own player in the chess community. The story gives a lot of insight into how Chess.com grew from a small startup to the largest online chess site, as well as the minds behind it. Touching on the dynamics of online chess compared to in person chess and the challenges being faced with new technologies and cheating strategies, and how we can combat that moving forward.
"For a company that was building the first real chess ecosystem, a community of chess players and chess influencers that revolved around an online game—cheating could one day represent an existential threat."
This story touches on so much—the drama, the history, eccentric characters—and while chess is at the heart of this story, Ben Mezrich has crafted something so compelling it can be enjoyed by anyone. While I think this story is a must for chess fans, you don't need to know how chess works to understand the stakes.
March 3, 2026
read if you like:
♟️ chess
🤦🏻♀️ competition scandals
📚BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE
summary:
I love a good scandal, and BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE is one of my favorite books about the MIT card counting era. Mezrich’s latest book, CHECKMATE, follows a similar genre, focused on the 2022 cheating scandal in chess between Magnus Carlsen and American chess phenom Hans Niemann. I admittedly knew nothing about this when it happened, but the book is an interesting story about the world of competitive chess and what someone will sacrifice to get to the top.
For those who aren’t familiar with the real life story, this scandal played out in the 2022 Sinquefield Cup in St. Louis, where Niemann, a wild underdog to World Chess Champion Carlsen, pulled ahead in a face to face game. Rather than losing, Carlsen withdrew from the tournament, raising suspicion about what had happened. In a subsequent match between the two, Carlsen walked away after his first move, and formally accused Niemann of cheating a week later. Chess.com, a booming startup out of COVID, led an investigation into Niemann, who admitted cheating as a child, but adamantly denied any actions against Carlsen.
If you like chess, you’ll love this book. The players are quirky and unique, which is a little harder to get into if you aren’t immersed in this world, but are still compelling to follow along with. Their ambition and drive is impressive (as someone who doesn’t play chess!) along with their willingness to be ruthless. The dynamic of online chess vs in person and the challenges associated with the rise in technology are interesting and relatable, and Mezrich does a good job of balancing the technical details with those a casual reader (or player) would understand. The debate around how to prove cheating in a game where it could be invisible is fascinating, and what a reputation means — or doesn’t mean — in the digital gaming era.
While the gaming lingo and environment is harder to understand if you aren’t in that world, it’s still a good book focused on ambition, fallout and the obsession over brilliance. Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NEtGalley for the advanced copy, and check this out when it releases on June 2!
♟️ chess
🤦🏻♀️ competition scandals
📚BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE
summary:
I love a good scandal, and BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE is one of my favorite books about the MIT card counting era. Mezrich’s latest book, CHECKMATE, follows a similar genre, focused on the 2022 cheating scandal in chess between Magnus Carlsen and American chess phenom Hans Niemann. I admittedly knew nothing about this when it happened, but the book is an interesting story about the world of competitive chess and what someone will sacrifice to get to the top.
For those who aren’t familiar with the real life story, this scandal played out in the 2022 Sinquefield Cup in St. Louis, where Niemann, a wild underdog to World Chess Champion Carlsen, pulled ahead in a face to face game. Rather than losing, Carlsen withdrew from the tournament, raising suspicion about what had happened. In a subsequent match between the two, Carlsen walked away after his first move, and formally accused Niemann of cheating a week later. Chess.com, a booming startup out of COVID, led an investigation into Niemann, who admitted cheating as a child, but adamantly denied any actions against Carlsen.
If you like chess, you’ll love this book. The players are quirky and unique, which is a little harder to get into if you aren’t immersed in this world, but are still compelling to follow along with. Their ambition and drive is impressive (as someone who doesn’t play chess!) along with their willingness to be ruthless. The dynamic of online chess vs in person and the challenges associated with the rise in technology are interesting and relatable, and Mezrich does a good job of balancing the technical details with those a casual reader (or player) would understand. The debate around how to prove cheating in a game where it could be invisible is fascinating, and what a reputation means — or doesn’t mean — in the digital gaming era.
While the gaming lingo and environment is harder to understand if you aren’t in that world, it’s still a good book focused on ambition, fallout and the obsession over brilliance. Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NEtGalley for the advanced copy, and check this out when it releases on June 2!
March 8, 2026
Captivating Chess Cheating Scandal at the Highest Level
Checkmate, by Ben Mezrich, is an action-filled book about the cheating controversy between scrappy, hot-headed up and coming Hans Niemann and the reigning world champion Magnus Carlsen. I ripped through this book in a weekend and enjoyed it immensely! It felt like I was reading all the modern chess tea while I was drinking a cup of tea. It's non-fiction, but reads like a novel and the story draws you in with all of its drama.
Hans Niemann was accused of cheating at the Sinquefield Cup in St. Louis in 2022. It was an over the board game in which he seemed bored, distracted, and took down Magnus Carlsen in the first game. This accusation spiraled in light of the fact that Hans had been caught cheating on Chess.com multiple times over the years.
Lawsuits begin swirling from Hans Niemann accusing Magnus, Chess.com, and even Hikaru Nakamura of colluding against him as a sort of “chess mafia” to block Hans from playing at the highest levels of chess. Chess.com released a report called “The Hans Niemann Report” that shows how he cheated multiple times on Chess.com over the years from as early as age 12, but they could not detect any hard evidence of having cheated over the board at Sinquefield.
Checkmate: Genius, Lies, Ambition, and the Biggest Scandal in Chess, delves into this Sinquefield Cup controversy in detail, with backgrounds and histories of all the players such as Magnus Carlsen, Hans Niemann, and Danny Rensch from Chess.com. It is a fast-paced read, and I was hooked because I remember having read the salacious rumors of how Hans had cheated, and watching those rumors blaze like a forest fire through the news media back in 2022. If you want to dive into some intriguing modern chess drama, this is absolutely the book for you.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for providing this ARC to review.
Checkmate, by Ben Mezrich, is an action-filled book about the cheating controversy between scrappy, hot-headed up and coming Hans Niemann and the reigning world champion Magnus Carlsen. I ripped through this book in a weekend and enjoyed it immensely! It felt like I was reading all the modern chess tea while I was drinking a cup of tea. It's non-fiction, but reads like a novel and the story draws you in with all of its drama.
Hans Niemann was accused of cheating at the Sinquefield Cup in St. Louis in 2022. It was an over the board game in which he seemed bored, distracted, and took down Magnus Carlsen in the first game. This accusation spiraled in light of the fact that Hans had been caught cheating on Chess.com multiple times over the years.
Lawsuits begin swirling from Hans Niemann accusing Magnus, Chess.com, and even Hikaru Nakamura of colluding against him as a sort of “chess mafia” to block Hans from playing at the highest levels of chess. Chess.com released a report called “The Hans Niemann Report” that shows how he cheated multiple times on Chess.com over the years from as early as age 12, but they could not detect any hard evidence of having cheated over the board at Sinquefield.
Checkmate: Genius, Lies, Ambition, and the Biggest Scandal in Chess, delves into this Sinquefield Cup controversy in detail, with backgrounds and histories of all the players such as Magnus Carlsen, Hans Niemann, and Danny Rensch from Chess.com. It is a fast-paced read, and I was hooked because I remember having read the salacious rumors of how Hans had cheated, and watching those rumors blaze like a forest fire through the news media back in 2022. If you want to dive into some intriguing modern chess drama, this is absolutely the book for you.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for providing this ARC to review.
June 12, 2026
Great read about the cheating scandal that rocked the chess world. A few years ago, Magnus Carlson (the best player to ever play the game) dropped out of a tournament when he became convinced that an opponent he had just played and lost to was cheating. The book dives into the history of these two men, the likelihood that cheating occurred or didn't, and how the chess world reacted afterward. I had heard a little of this story; it got big enough that it broke into the mainstream news as well, but 90% of this was new information to me. Mezrich is a fantastic non-fiction writer, and this book is no exception.
Reminded me of one of my favorite books in this genre, Levels of the Game by John McPhee. That book was about one tennis match, but it covers the lives of both players, their families, their dreams, and their shortcomings leading up to the game. Anyone would enjoy this book, but if you like chess at all, then I think it's a slam-dunk read. Recommended.
Reminded me of one of my favorite books in this genre, Levels of the Game by John McPhee. That book was about one tennis match, but it covers the lives of both players, their families, their dreams, and their shortcomings leading up to the game. Anyone would enjoy this book, but if you like chess at all, then I think it's a slam-dunk read. Recommended.
June 11, 2026
I have been looking forward to the release of this book for the last few months and I think I downloaded it within a week of it being available on Spotify.
I watched the Netflix special and enjoyed it and the subject matter interested me but more than that I just really enjoy Mezrich’s books and have read all of his major titles.
He is not a serious journalist and for folks looking for deeply researched and hardcore non-fiction analysis Mezrich is not a good fit.
All of his books read like novels - they are thrillers that are only loosely in the non-fiction realm but they are always fun and he writes about topics that are interesting to me.
The competitive world of chess is not something I follow but this story has lots of drama, lots of outsized characters and big ambition.
It was fun.
I watched the Netflix special and enjoyed it and the subject matter interested me but more than that I just really enjoy Mezrich’s books and have read all of his major titles.
He is not a serious journalist and for folks looking for deeply researched and hardcore non-fiction analysis Mezrich is not a good fit.
All of his books read like novels - they are thrillers that are only loosely in the non-fiction realm but they are always fun and he writes about topics that are interesting to me.
The competitive world of chess is not something I follow but this story has lots of drama, lots of outsized characters and big ambition.
It was fun.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received this arc from Hachette and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the show Queens Gambit and Ben Mezrich’s previous book Bringing Down the House so when I saw he had a new book coming out on a similar subject I couldn’t wait to read it.
I found this to be a super fun and entertaining book about a major cheating scandal involving Hans Niemann and also featuring Magnus Carlson.
I loved the detailed analysis and deep dives into all the characters involved. This is what Ben Mezrich does best. It’s not traditional non fiction or journalism. He embeds himself and tries to show all sides of a situation that there is not necessarily one truth.
If you enjoyed any of Ben’s previous books or want an engaging non fiction read, I highly recommend picking this one up.
I loved the show Queens Gambit and Ben Mezrich’s previous book Bringing Down the House so when I saw he had a new book coming out on a similar subject I couldn’t wait to read it.
I found this to be a super fun and entertaining book about a major cheating scandal involving Hans Niemann and also featuring Magnus Carlson.
I loved the detailed analysis and deep dives into all the characters involved. This is what Ben Mezrich does best. It’s not traditional non fiction or journalism. He embeds himself and tries to show all sides of a situation that there is not necessarily one truth.
If you enjoyed any of Ben’s previous books or want an engaging non fiction read, I highly recommend picking this one up.
June 3, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the eARC. All thought are my own.
I was excited to dive into this book. After reading Bringing Down the House and loving Ben Mezrich's storytelling style, I couldn't wait to see what he'd do with a story centered around chess.
This was such an engaging read. I loved the way he wrote it with the flow and energy of a novel rather than a dense, fact-heavy nonfiction book. The storytelling is vivid, fast-moving, and easy to get lost in. I read this within two days.
If you enjoy chess, this book will hit the mark. Mezrich weaves game into narrative in a way that feels exciting without slowing down the pace.
Overall, a compelling and entertaining read that kept me turning the pages. A strong four stars.
I was excited to dive into this book. After reading Bringing Down the House and loving Ben Mezrich's storytelling style, I couldn't wait to see what he'd do with a story centered around chess.
This was such an engaging read. I loved the way he wrote it with the flow and energy of a novel rather than a dense, fact-heavy nonfiction book. The storytelling is vivid, fast-moving, and easy to get lost in. I read this within two days.
If you enjoy chess, this book will hit the mark. Mezrich weaves game into narrative in a way that feels exciting without slowing down the pace.
Overall, a compelling and entertaining read that kept me turning the pages. A strong four stars.
June 19, 2026
A strong four stars to this riveting book about the scandal that rocked the chess world a few years ago. Ben Mezrich excels at narrative non-fiction and this book reads like a thriller, albeit one without a clear resolution.
I really enjoyed reading about the drama in the chess world, the explosion of online chess and the hero/villain narrative that is put forth. The author tries to lay out the facts as he learns them and leaves it to the reader to ultimately form one's opinion.
P.S. I'm a competitive bridge player so found the discussion of cheating and the detection algorithms particularly intriguing as as simliar scandals have occurred in the bridge community over the past 5-10 years.
I really enjoyed reading about the drama in the chess world, the explosion of online chess and the hero/villain narrative that is put forth. The author tries to lay out the facts as he learns them and leaves it to the reader to ultimately form one's opinion.
P.S. I'm a competitive bridge player so found the discussion of cheating and the detection algorithms particularly intriguing as as simliar scandals have occurred in the bridge community over the past 5-10 years.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the advanced copy of Checkmate. This book has a strong opening that really draws you in and feels like a fast-paced TV drama. The pacing is great throughout, making it a total page turner for a subject I previously didn’t have much interest in (chess).
You don’t need to be in the world of chess to understand and find this intriguing. I didn’t want to put it down and read it in 2 days, but would have finished it in one sitting if I had the time.
This is my first book by Mezrich but I’ve read many by Michael Lewis, and if you’re a fan of Lewis, you’ll find this even lighter to read and absorb.
You don’t need to be in the world of chess to understand and find this intriguing. I didn’t want to put it down and read it in 2 days, but would have finished it in one sitting if I had the time.
This is my first book by Mezrich but I’ve read many by Michael Lewis, and if you’re a fan of Lewis, you’ll find this even lighter to read and absorb.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Checkmate is a fascinating and comprehensive investigation into the biggest controversial scandal in chess.
It’s well-written and a fast-paced read. The research itself is meticulous, and all sides are fairly examined before and after the scandal. It’s also accessible for everyone and easy to understand even if you’ve never played chess.
Overall, this is surprisingly an entertaining book about chess drama. I highly recommend it and am excited to hear it's going to be a movie!
Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC(advanced reader copy) in return for an honest review
It’s well-written and a fast-paced read. The research itself is meticulous, and all sides are fairly examined before and after the scandal. It’s also accessible for everyone and easy to understand even if you’ve never played chess.
Overall, this is surprisingly an entertaining book about chess drama. I highly recommend it and am excited to hear it's going to be a movie!
Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC(advanced reader copy) in return for an honest review
June 4, 2026
Lots of Good Moves by Ben Mezrich
Even if you do not know or even like chess, Ben Mezrich’s account is a fascinating read. He does a masterful job (pun intended!) of bringing the players and the tournaments to life. His prose is thoughtful. His accounts are beautifully crafted and easy to follow. He describes not only the players and the tournament organizers but, even more importantly, the entrepreneurs behind the engines that move a complicated industry. There is human interest, a view into the machinery of a complicated organization, and a microscope on interactions among humans and perhaps computer competitors to come. Great job.
Even if you do not know or even like chess, Ben Mezrich’s account is a fascinating read. He does a masterful job (pun intended!) of bringing the players and the tournaments to life. His prose is thoughtful. His accounts are beautifully crafted and easy to follow. He describes not only the players and the tournament organizers but, even more importantly, the entrepreneurs behind the engines that move a complicated industry. There is human interest, a view into the machinery of a complicated organization, and a microscope on interactions among humans and perhaps computer competitors to come. Great job.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
I've never read Mezrich before, and I think this was a good one for me to start with. I'm fascinated by chess and LOVED Danny Rensch's memoir (he is one of the founders of Chess.com). This book goes into the intricacies of the cheating scandal/dustup between Hans Niemann and Magnus Carlsen. I had also heard about that from a podcast, so I was eager to find out more updates, and I found that I had been given some misinformation too. If you are interested in chess at all, I highly recommend this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Was familiar with the Hans Niemann/Magnus Carlsen chess controversy but this in-depth look at its beginnings, the machinations, and the human toll on all involved was very well done. Amazingly paced it reads like a novel and finished it in little more than a day. (Also made me want to play chess again.)
Random note: as a college administrator this is an excellent case study in development of a young adult mentally, ethically, and social-emotionally. Riveting.
Random note: as a college administrator this is an excellent case study in development of a young adult mentally, ethically, and social-emotionally. Riveting.
Review of advance copy
Ben presents a detailed account of the Hans-Magnus 'cheating' saga. While no conclusion is reached, I believe that Hans was unnecessarily vilified by Magnus and unfairly removed by chess.com from the site and competitions with no evidence being produced in Over The Board games. Chess playing has grown worldwide, and so has the power of chess.com. Let's hope that growing the game to a wider audience is more important than
Making a profit.
Making a profit.
June 6, 2026
I admit to knowing nothing about chess but still found this book interesting. The book explores allegations of cheating made by reigning World Champion, Magnus Carlsen, against scrappy Hans Neiman who unexpectedly beat Carlsen in a tournament match. The book delves into the background of both men, who both appear to be on the spectrum. I found the story of how chess.com developed into multimillion dollar business even more compelling than the story of the 2 chess players.
June 10, 2026
Niemann's gambit
Was I the only person who went into this thinking that the electronic anal beads were confirmed as real? Guess I need to increase my chess news. In any case, this was entertaining, but it seems that there was some type of foul play on Niemann's part. The insertion of Mezrich into the story at the end was kind of out of left field and a bit odd. Likely don't need to read anything else on this topic though.
Was I the only person who went into this thinking that the electronic anal beads were confirmed as real? Guess I need to increase my chess news. In any case, this was entertaining, but it seems that there was some type of foul play on Niemann's part. The insertion of Mezrich into the story at the end was kind of out of left field and a bit odd. Likely don't need to read anything else on this topic though.
June 17, 2026
I have vaguely heard of the top names in chess and about some cheating scandal, so this fleshed out the headlines I had encountered. I don't know if I'd get along with anyone super into the chess world, it feels very intense. This story gives both sides very fairly as far as I can tell, to the point where I felt I was on one side and then I felt I was on the other. I am squarely in the I can't tell camp now.
June 8, 2026
I love a good scandal! I don't follow (or play!) chess, so I was unaware of the details of this story before I read the book. I liked that the author told the story from multiple points of view and spent a lot of time fleshing out each of the characters involved - it would have been very easy to paint this as a more straightforward hero/villain story, but the nuance made it more complex and true to life.
June 10, 2026
This is the first book I read by this author, but it won’t be the last. The story itself is very interesting, but the compelling writing boosts it to 5 stars. An amazing amount of detail has been summarized into a very clear narrative that is as page-turning as a thriller. Recommended!
#GoodreadsGiveaway #HachetteBookGroup #GrandCentralPublishing
#GoodreadsGiveaway #HachetteBookGroup #GrandCentralPublishing
June 11, 2026
My goal for the year is to read more nonfiction. I did not expect to be this interested in a nonfiction story about chess! Partly due to the scandal and partly the writing style of the author, the book flew by for me and was one of my easiest reads of the year.
May 6, 2026
One of the more boring stories from Ben Mezrich. Not sure why he inserted himself in it? Strange book overall.
June 9, 2026
Reads like sensationalized clickbait. Out of almost 900 rated books, clearly in my bottom 10.
June 10, 2026
Could not put it down!
June 15, 2026
Chess-anal beads, what’s not to like?
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