Status Updates From Spy's Mate: A Novel

Another Korchnoi reference? Volosin wearing tinted glasses

“There were also some alarmists who theorized that chess, as practiced by its two most able exponents, was moving toward a state of sterile equilibrium in which draws were the result of correct play by both sides, and outright victory would be impossible unless someone committed an outrageous blunder.”

Samisch - Nimzowitsch

Rotlewi - Rubinstein.

Diaghilev clearly modeled after Korchnoi who claimed he had correspondence chess games with the ghost of Geza Maroczy.

“What’s the matter, Yasha? It’s just a game.”
“I hate chess.” Yasha said
“You don’t hate chess,” Semyon said. “You hate losing.”