{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/6ac3c2599610f265be0022ef/6ac3c3457c84f5d4dd51966c?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"9 yr Old Forced by Cult to Become Chess Master to Convert the World (ft. Danny Rensch)","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/6ac3c2599610f265be0022ef/fcc8ab31c9f6e1ddc240d64fac4f5cad.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>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.&nbsp;</p><p>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.&nbsp; He chronicles the traumas of being “special” in a cult that forced separation from his mother. Mentored by an alcohol*c, Russian chess master, he found solace alongside suffer*ng 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.</p><p>Deeply heartfelt, keenly reflective, and haunting, today Danny dives further into the details of his book, Dark Squares, and the never-before-told story of Danny Rensch’s resilience, survival, and his enduring love for the game that saved him.&nbsp;</p><p><a href=\"https://youtu.be/F6bbjb_rRtI\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Click here to watch on YouTube</a></p><p><a href=\"https://www.amazon.com/dp/1541703286/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_YBAFE3X4CPQTRG1BEJP3?linkCode=ml1&amp;tag=shelisehufste-20&amp;linkId=3fab1602caa716dd06d5ee09d5cb00d2\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Danny's Book Amazon: Dark Squares</a></p><p>Follow Danny on Social Media!</p><p>IG: <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/dannyrensch/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">@dannyrensch&nbsp;</a></p><p>Subscribe to our<a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/@CultstoConsciousnessClip\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"> C2C \"CLIPS\" Channel!</a></p><p>Support C2C - Any donations are welcome and appreciated to support the making of this podcast.</p><p><a href=\"https://cults-to-consciousness-shop.fourthwall.com/en-usd\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Find our FULL (uncensored) merch store here!</a></p><p>Patreon <a href=\"https://www.patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness</a></p><p>Venmo @sheliseann</p><p>Find us on Social media!</p><p>Instagram <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/cultstoconsciousness\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">@cultstoconsciousness</a>&nbsp;</p><p>Host Instagram <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/sheliseann/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">@sheliseann&nbsp;</a></p><p>Co Producer / Host <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.rosales_\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">@jonathan.rosales_&nbsp;</a></p><p>TikTok <a href=\"http://cults.to.consciousness\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">@cults.to.consciousness&nbsp;</a></p><p>Twitter <a href=\"https://twitter.com/cultstocon\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">@cultstocon</a>&nbsp;</p><p>**Disclaimer: Thanks for joining us at Cults to Consciousness. This storytelling podcast is meant to be for entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for medical advice. We may discuss triggering topics and we ask that you make your personal mental health a priority. Lastly, the opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the host.**</p><p><br></p><p>Chapter Marks</p><p>00:00:00 Intro</p><p>00:04:54 Background on the Church of Immortal Consciousness</p><p>00:10:53 Danny's chiIdhood &amp; his parents' relationship</p><p>00:20:43 First experiences with chess</p><p>00:25:52 When chess started taking off for Danny</p><p>00:29:31 Danny's relationship with his mentor, Igor</p><p>00:33:29 Being given his spiritual purpose to play chess</p><p>00:39:54 Connections to the movie Searching for Bobby Fischer</p><p>00:44:49 Sacrificing the relationship with his mother</p><p>00:54:48 Balancing intuition and belief</p><p>01:00:39 Living two lives</p><p>01:07:46 Medical issues &amp; turning to subst*nces</p><p>01:18:46 The hero of Danny's story</p><p>01:25:58 Overcoming the mysoginy taught by the cult</p><p>01:30:48 Founding Chess.com</p><p>01:38:47 Triggering moments from the Queen's Gambit</p><p>01:43:00 Danny's life now</p><p>01:47:24 Full circle moment with Searching for Bobby Fischer</p><p>01:51:53 Danny's Linda Listen</p><p>See Privacy Policy at <a href=\"https://art19.com/privacy\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href=\"https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.</p>","author_name":"Shelise Ann Sola, Jonathan C Rosales"}