BOOK EXCERPT: Checkmate: Scandal, cheating and the billion-dollar rise of chess
Chess isn’t just a game – it’s a battlefield of mind-bending stakes, where the champions who emerge victorious ascend into the gilded halls of a multimillion-dollar dynasty. In this world, winning is everything – no matter the cost. Bestselling author Ben Mezrich explores the chess empire in his latest book, Checkmate.
By Ben MezrichSouth Africa
%2Ffile%2Fattachments%2Forphans%2Fcheckmate-extractcopy_501642.jpg?w=900&fmt=webp&q=80&fit=cover)
AI summary
Sign in to read the summary
Chess isn’t just a game – it’s a battlefield of mind-bending stakes, where the champions who emerge victorious ascend into the gilded halls of a multimillion-dollar dynasty. In this world, winning is everything – no matter the cost. Bestselling author Ben Mezrich explores the chess empire in his latest book, Checkmate.
Follow the story
About this article
- Length
- 51 words · 1 min read
- Published
- October 7, 2026
- Byline
- Ben Mezrich
- Source
- Daily Maverick