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

The extraordinary new memoir by the chief chess officer for Chess.com

Preview

Failed to add items

Sorry, we are unable to add the item because your shopping cart is already at capacity.

Add to basket failed.

Please try again later

Add to wishlist failed.

Please try again later

Remove from wishlist failed.

Please try again later

Adding to library failed

Please try again

Follow podcast failed

Unfollow podcast failed

Get 30 days of Standard free

£5.99/mo after trial. Cancel monthly.

Try for £0.00

More purchase options

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

By: Danny Rensch

Narrated by: Danny Rensch

Try for £0.00

£5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for £17.94

Summary

'A powerful memoir'
Garry Kasparov

'Heart-breaking, hilarious, ultimately transcendent'
Jeannette Wall

'Compelling and unique'
Ben Mezrich

'I haven't been this inspired by an underdog story in a long time'
Bobby Hall (aka Logic)

___________

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 centre of the investigation into 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 with chess - an ancient game which became his only escape.

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.©2025 Daniel Michael Rensch

Chess

Religious Studies

Game

Heartfelt

Chess Religious Studies Game Heartfelt

Critic reviews

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)

Dark Squares is a powerful memoir and a testimony to why an ancient board game still has a place in our modern world. With a home life as troubled as the one Danny Rensch experienced, the complexities of the chessboard were more than a mere distraction. Chess is not life - even a world champion can admit that. But, as in Rensch's case, it can certainly save one. With his work at Chess.com and with this beautiful book, he is well on the way to paying back his debt to our beloved game. (Garry Kasparov, 13th World Chess Champion)

Dark Squares is a heartbreaking, hilarious, ultimately transcendent story of one man's journey out of chaos and dysfunction. Danny Rensch's vehicle for escape was not anger or hate, but rather finding what he loved - chess - and turning it into his superpower. Thank you, Danny Rensch, for making my Christmas shopping easier. (Jeannette Walls, author of the two-million-copy bestseller The Glass Castle)

The author writes of victories in his personal life, too, overcoming marital problems and escaping the influence of the cult. A chess professional's winning memoir. (Kirkus Reviews)

Most relevant

Thank you Danny !
Brutally honest and down to the bone, naked, like a big waterfall washing his own pain and story clean.
So many gifts in this book, the mystery of life, the contrasts, the ambivalence and pain of his family and mentors manipulations and support, his own struggle and dance thru the traumas, enthusiasm, blindness and clarity. The personal longing and passion for the game, opening doors to deeper layers, love, truth and reconciliation.

It was fascinating to get such a deep peek into Danny's life and his story, his views upon chess, history, cheating scandals and the evolution of the game. Its definitely captivating all the way, and also touched me into looking at my own life, story and purpose in a new way.

Respect !