An Evening with Author & Chess.com Co-Founder Danny Rensch

On November 5, Hummingbird Books in Chestnut Hill welcomed Chess.com co-founder Danny Rensch, for a special evening celebrating the release of his new memoir, Dark Squares, followed by a surprise exhibition of blindfold chess.

Interviewed by bestselling author Ben Mezrich, Danny Rensch discussed how he ultimately overcame the abusive cult he was born into and its psychological manipulation and neglect. His rise as an international master was followed by an amazing journey the led to his co-founding role with Chess.com, all of which and more is detailed in Danny Rensch's Dark Squares.

The interview was followed by a surprise quick chess game in which Danny Rensch played blindfolded against New England Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins. Rensch and Hollins became friends when Hollins played in Chess.com's recent BlitzChamps IV in which chess-playing NFL stars squared off for a $100,000 charity pool.

Danny Rensch introduces Mack Hollins to the chess board, and here's a photo of Mack Hollins crushing it at his day job :) (source: NFL.com)

The blindfold exhibition was a welcome surprise that came together last minute, with help from IM David Vigorito:

Here's a copy of the game score...

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