Description
Marty Supreme meets The Queen’s Gambit in bestselling author Ben Mezrich’s next smash, Checkmate: Genius, Lies, Ambition, and the Biggest Scandal in Chess. Mezrich, master of the non-fiction thriller, joins us on the book’s publication to talk about this true story of the modern chess world’s most explosive scandal. Already in development by A24 following a fierce bidding war, with Nathan Fielder to direct and Emma Stone producing, Checkmate tells the 2022 story of 19-year-old American chess prodigy Hans Niemann’s defeat of world champion Magnus Carlsen in a stunning live match, and the bombshell cheating allegation and high-stakes investigation that followed. Hear Mezrich talk about his dive into the cutthroat world of competitive chess, how a centuries-old game became a billion dollar industry, his career-spanning fascination with young savants who tango between ambition and abuse in their quest for success, and more.
Recorded Jun 04, 2026 at The 92nd Street Y, New York.
Your support helps us continue creating online content for our community. Donate now: http://www.92NY.org/Donate
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/92ndStreetY
Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/92ndStreetY
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@92ndstreety
Archives: https://www.92ny.org/archives