The James Altucher Show How Chess Saved Danny Rensch’s Life: From Cult Roots to Chess.com’s Success
Jun 28, 2025
Danny Rensch, International Master and Chief Chess Officer of Chess.com, shares his gripping story from a troubled childhood in a spiritual cult to becoming a chess authority. He discusses how chess was both a refuge and a source of trauma. Danny reveals the psychological challenges he faced, the explosive growth of Chess.com fueled by 'The Queen's Gambit,' and the implications of recent cheating scandals. This candid conversation dives into the essence of resilience and transforms pain into purpose, all through the lens of a game he loves.
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Growing Up in a Chess Cult
- Danny Rensch grew up in a spiritual cult led by a chess-obsessed leader who took him from his family.
- This experience shaped his early life deeply, involving trauma, isolation, and complex family dynamics.
Psychological Effects of Abuse and Cults
- Abused children often stop loving themselves rather than their abusers.
- Cult members often believe a lie so deeply that questioning becomes almost impossible.
Health Crisis and Internet Opportunity
- Danny lost his hearing and was bedridden, pausing his chess career for almost two years.
- The arrival of the internet inspired him to reinvent his chess career and eventually become a co-founder of Chess.com.