Please help First Light welcome Danny Rensch to the shop for an unforgettable evening of chess and conversation about his new memoir, DARK SQUARES.

This event will begin with a chess simul, in which Danny will face off against 10 lucky players at the same time. Danny will then be joined in conversation by First Light bookseller Annie Tate Cockrum.

Entries in the simul are extremely limited. All paid tickets include a copy of the book and a reserved seat. Unreserved seats are available on a first come, first served basis. Free RSVPs are also encouraged.

About the book

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 center of 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 for an ancient game, and chess became his only escape. Rensch rose through the chess ranks until a medical emergency nearly took him out of the game forever. And it almost did, until Chess.com came along.

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.

About the author

Danny Rensch is an International Master and Chief Chess Officer at Chess.com. After a successful scholastic chess career, Danny joined Chess.com as a co-founder in 2009. He directs the company's content, media partnerships, and professional chess events. Danny is an accomplished commentator and broadcaster, which he used to establish Chess.com's streaming and creator programs. He has channeled his lifelong passion for playing and teaching chess to advance Chess.com's mission of growing the game and helping people enjoy their lives through chess. With over 200 million registered users, Chess.com is the leading platform for playing and learning chess.

Danny will be joined in conversation by First Light bookseller Annie Tate Cockrum. Annie Tate started our weekly chess club that meets at the shop every Wednesday night. She is a USCF certified tournament director and hosts tournaments in her living room. Her Chess.com rating is approximately 1260.