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Checkmate: Genius, Lies, Ambition, and the Biggest Scandal in Chess

Checkmate: Genius, Lies, Ambition, and the Biggest Scandal in Chess

by Ben Mezrich

Grand Central Publishing ·2026 ·304 pages
New Release
Maybe Someday
Maybe Someday
I Index
26/99
Bottom of the Pile

7/99

Critics' Rating Index

Maybe Someday

44/99

Readers' Rating Index

n/a

Scholars' Citation Index

51/99

Volume of Reviews

58/99

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About This Book

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.


Reviews

"Chess and cheating is life-and-death stuff...but Mezrich's style is to treat it more like a sideshow."

Kirkus Read review ↗ Maybe Someday

"Capitalizes on the game's dramatic possibilities."

Julia M. Klein· The Wall Street Journal Maybe Someday

"A gripping investigation ..."

Publishers Weekly Read review ↗ Top of the Pile

"Mezrich pieces together interviews and extensive research with cinematic flair to create an enticing and entertaining story of burgeoning egos fighting for supremacy and legitimacy in a game that has fascinated players and enthusiasts for over 1,500 years."

Craig Clark· Booklist Read review ↗ Near the Top

"There are also errors in the book that have nothing to do with understanding chess ..."

Dylan Loeb McClain· The New York Times Read review ↗ Maybe Someday

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