Today's special guest is Danny Rensch — Chess.com's Chief Chess Officer! We’ve discussed many hot topics: Hans' against chess.com, how FIDE and other organizers ignore cheating problems and why 2025 will be HUGE for chess. Danny shared how they banned top GMs and WHY the Hikaru-Magnus match never happened in 2023. Bonus: two action-packed blitz games to finish!

Support me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/mustreader

My X: https://x.com/mustreader

My channel with podcast highlights: https://www.youtube.com/@CwMClips

Collabs: [email protected]

Danny's X: https://x.com/DanielRensch

Pre-order Danny's book Dark Squares: https://www.chess.com/darksquares

My podcast with Chess.com CEO: https://youtu.be/1cCrMcUTDj8?si=Wf3TGeGIQknmBDLO

My podcast with Anish: https://youtu.be/x41meg64OxM?si=MHcuDsNNOs6gLMUj

My podcast with Kramnik that got me blocked by him: https://youtu.be/YKzes4eteb4?si=5nUg3RNqeHXnqANK

My podcast with Naroditsky: https://youtu.be/OKeb-WRMYpM?si=B3cfMHORtC6gEoMc

My podcast with Dubov: https://youtu.be/rimjT4Pj3jY?si=JGVX3uw5CS0c6T9z

Many thanks to my Patreon supporter: Sarterus

00:00 – Intro

01:41 – Danny's challenging childhood

05:17 – "Chess is a scary game"

06:37 – What chess means to Danny

11:44 – Secret behind Chess.com success

18:52 – Is chess boring to watch?

24:03 – Chess audience growing 10x soon?

28:46 – 2025 chess boom: Netflix, A24, Joe Rogan

31:05 – Chess popularity explosion

33:22 – Chess.com quitting tournaments?!

39:22 – Why Hikaru-Magnus match cancelled?

42:32 – Niemann lawsuit aftermath

45:50 – What Hans Niemann isn't telling

51:07 – Organizers ignore cheating

59:55 – Will cheating destroy chess?

1:06:17 – Blitz games

Danny Rensch: trusting HANS, IGNORING cheating, Magnus vs Hikaru

daniel rensch

danny rensch

danny chief chess officer chess.com

danny cco chess.com

danny rensch chesscom

danny rensch cult leader

danny rensch childhood

danny rensch interview

danny rensch podcast

chess.com chief chess officer

danny rensch dark squares

danny rensch book

hans niemann lawsuit

chess.com niemann lawsuit

magnus carlsen hans niemann controversy

why magnus hikaru match was cancelled

magnus carlsen on joe rogan

chess.com bans grandmasters

chess.com banned players

chess cheating

cheating in chess

how chess.com catches cheaters

chess.com anti cheat system

netflix chess documentary

a24 chess movie emma stone

chess boom 2025

chess esport

chess podcast

chess interview

mustreader

greg mustreader

mustreader chess

My name is Greg Mustreader, I am a Candidate Master in chess, an entrepreneur and host of several podcasts.

On the Chess with Mustreader channel, I interview top chess players, play against chess AIs, analyze the most interesting chess games and combinations of today and of the past, as well as show you my path in chess and the way I work on my chess improvement (including recaps from the tournaments I play).

I live in Almaty, Kazakhstan and travel the world extensively (been to 50 countries). I'm 31 years old, I have a girlfriend, three dogs and four cats. I speak English, Russian, German, and a bit of French and Chinese.

Don't forget to subscribe!

#dannyrensch #danielrensch #chesscom #chesswithmustreader #gregmustreader