Last episode, we took a deep dive into the open secret in chess of rampant sexism, misogyny, and abuse of women. This time we continue that conversation, and look at the ways that the chess community is fighting back to create not just better equality, but better chess. We talk with chessfeels hosts Julia Rios and JJ Lang, Women in Chess Foundation founder Emilia Castelao, streamer and chess player Lile Koridze, commentator and WIM Fiona Steil-Aontoni about what needs to change to finally bring the game we all love into the 21st century. CONTENT WARNING: This episode discusses acts of assault, sexual assault, and abuse, including abuse of minors. The end credits also include brief mention of suicide prevention. Hosted by good producer / bad chess player Jess Schmidt and first-time podcaster / good chess player Ryan Webb, this series explores the events leading up to and following the Sinquefield Cup cheating scandal and tries to unravel the truth of what really happened - or, failing that, what the heck these events could mean to chess. If you’d like to read a time-coded transcript of this or any other episodes, visit rookedpodcast.xyz/transcripts. Check out the Women in Chess Foundation and support us on Patreon to access monthly bonus content: www.patreon.com/rooked Written, hosted, edited, and produced by Jess Schmidt and Ryan Webb. Music by Lorna Gildfedder. Marketing by Bailey Simone Photography. Resources Rare Interview - Bobby Fischer On Women Bobby Fischer answers the same question about women in chess 10 years apart. Kasparov Interviews by Edward Winter  Addressing Sexism in Chess: A Guide to Making Chess More Inclusive Ju Wenjun denied seat at 2023 World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship "Chess has not been that kind to women," says GM Magnus Carlsen: The Queen's Gambit Susan Polgar Facts and Myths About Women in Chess, Dr David Smerdon (GM) Anna Cramling tells Levy Rozman that opponents were sending her sexual messages after her Games The Experiences Of Women In Chess FIDE introduces ground-breaking Gender Equality in Chess Index (GECI) – 2023 Rankings unveiled Jen Shahade tweet: “Very insightful from the great Pia Cramling on this topic” [video] Jordan’s Principle Powered by Firstory Hosting

Misogyny and sexism are the two biggest issues we’ve encountered in chess outside cheating. It’s an institutional issue that has for too long been accepted in the sport as normal. Abuse of women in chess is still ongoing at a high frequency, and the organizations and governing bodies surrounding chess have seemingly let it slide…to the point that it’s become an open secret. We talk with Women in Chess Foundation founder Emilia Castelao, streamer and chess player Lile Koridze, and commentator and WIM Fiona Steil-Antoni about how misogyny affects the game, their experience as women in a field primarily dominated by men, and what actions are being taken in order to give women a level playing board. Featuring Jen Shahade’s brave disclosure, and the actions and other revelations it has brought it its wake. CONTENT WARNING: This episode discusses acts of assault, sexual assault, and abuse, including abuse of minors. The end credits also include brief mention of suicide prevention. Hosted by good producer / bad chess player Jess Schmidt and first-time podcaster / good chess player Ryan Webb, this series explores the events leading up to and following the Sinquefield Cup cheating scandal and tries to unravel the truth of what really happened - or, failing that, what the heck these events could mean to chess. If you’d like to read a time-coded transcript of this or any other episodes, visit rookedpodcast.xyz/transcripts. Check out the Women in Chess Foundation and support us on Patreon to access monthly bonus content: www.patreon.com/rooked Written, hosted, edited, and produced by Jess Schmidt and Ryan Webb. Music by Lorna Gildfedder. Marketing by Bailey Simone Photography. Resources Jen Shahade: We Need To Step Up To Make Sure Chess Is Safe Tweet: Time’s up. WSJ Article Alejandro’s letter to Saint Louis Chess Club Tweet: Jen’s follow up Lichess: Breaking the Silence The Experiences Of Women In Chess US Chess Final Statement About Alejandro Ramirez An Important Message from the Board of Directors Lessons on Whistleblowing We, women chess players Facts and Myths about Gender in Chess Tweet: Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova Tweet: FIDE on Smirin Truth and Reconciliation Commission Healthcare Calls to Action Powered by Firstory Hosting

In honour of International Women’s Day…this is not the episode on misogyny in chess that we teased last episode. How does that make sense? Well, we want to make sure we get such an important episode right. So instead of that episode, here’s a little bonus instead while we keep working to make sure the next episode is as good as we want it to be. Please enjoy this thrilling tale of two chess murderers: Alexander Pichushkin, aka The Chessboard Killer, and the conniving Claude Bloodgoode who killed his mother and manipulated the USCF rating system from within prison to become the second-highest rated player in the USA. Now, you might be thinking "How does this have anything to do with the Sinquefield Cup scandal?" The answer is, it doesn't - that's what makes this a bonus. Thank you to friend of the pod Trisha Bernardo for suggesting this episode. CONTENT WARNING: This episode discusses horrendous serial killer murders - feel free to skip this one, it doesn’t have any bearing on the rest of the series. Hosted by good producer / bad chess player Jess Schmidt and first-time podcaster / good chess player Ryan Webb, this series explores the events leading up to and following the Sinquefield Cup cheating scandal and tries to unravel the truth of what really happened - or, failing that, what the heck these events could mean to chess. If you’d like to read a time-coded transcript of this or any other episodes, visit rookedpodcast.xyz/transcripts. Support us on Patreon to access monthly bonus content: www.patreon.com/rooked Written, hosted, edited, and produced by Jess Schmidt and Ryan Webb. Music by Lorna Gildfedder. Marketing by Bailey Simone Photography. Further reading https://www.chess.com/article/view/chess-criminals-and-the-games-they-play https://www.chess.com/blog/Rodgy/how-an-inmate-became-americas-2 Powered by Firstory Hosting

Just what exactly is the psychology of chess? Damned if we know, we’re not psychologists. But Julia Rios and JJ Lang of the chessfeels podcast do a great job of discussing exactly that, among other things…and we were so inspired by them that we decided to do our own episode on psychology (well...pseudo psychology is probably a better term for what we do in this episode, honestly.) Anyways, if you want to hear us talk about what a typical chess player might look like, and why they seem more prone than the average bear to madness (looking at you, Bobby Fischer…and maybe you too, Vladimir Kramnik??) have a listen.  CONTENT WARNING: This episode briefly mentions Canadian Residential Schools at the very end of the episode after the credits. Hosted by good producer / bad chess player Jess Schmidt and first-time podcaster / good chess player Ryan Webb, this series explores the events leading up to and following the Sinquefield Cup cheating scandal and tries to unravel the truth of what really happened - or, failing that, what the heck these events could mean to chess. If you’d like to read a time-coded transcript of this or any other episodes, visit rookedpodcast.xyz/transcripts. Check out www.crazycrows.club and support us on Patreon to access monthly bonus content: www.patreon.com/rooked Written, hosted, edited, and produced by Jess Schmidt and Ryan Webb. Music by Lorna Gildfedder. Marketing by Bailey Simone Photography. Featured in this episode: Psychologist Julia Rios and Chess Teacher JJ Lang, hosts of chessfeels podcast Mike Boyd, The Guy That Learns Things Youtube channel Ben Johnson, host of The Perpetual Chess Podcast Emilia Castelao, FIDE historian James Canty III, FIDE Master and Chess Streamer Bill Cole, The Mental Game Coach David Franklin, Associate Professor of Law Sources chessfeels episode 1: the real psychology of chess https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/book Freddy got Fingered - "The backwards man" HD Levon Aronian defends Hans Niemann after cheating accusations. A Psychological Autopsy of Bobby Fischer  Bobby Fischer on Paul Morphy and how opening theory destroyed chess "I hate chess" - Bobby Fischer. INFORMATIONAL On resent hysteria 🙂 Kramnik Threatens Lawsuit as Chess.com Clears Hikaru's Name Sign the petition On chess.com statement Is Hikaru Cheating?? Kramnik "YES!!!" Kramnik exposes cheaters with proofs!  Chinese chess champion stripped of title after defecating in hotel bathtub Hans vs Magnus: The Rematch Magnus Carlsen on Cheating in Chess, Being the GOAT, and Retiring from the Game.. ALL-STAR | Michael Bublé, Will Arnett 02.01.24 Further reading https://chessfeels.transistor.fm/episodes/episode-1-not-the-first-episode Powered by Firstory Hosting

What does good sportsmanship in chess look like? Does it actually matter whether its best players are good sports? Well, we think it does - and so do some other people like, oh, I don’t know, Magnus Carlsen (not sure if you’ve heard of him, but he’s kind of a big deal.) Plus our main guest for this episode, Bill Cole - aka The Mental Game Coach - thinks so, too. But, decide for yourself, I guess.  CONTENT WARNING: This episode briefly mentions the National Inquiry into the Missing and Murdered Women and Girls at the very end of the episode after the credits. NOTE: This episode is Coach Taylor approved. Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose. CAN’T LOSE! Hosted by good producer / bad chess player Jess Schmidt and first-time podcaster / good chess player Ryan Webb, this series explores the events leading up to and following the Sinquefield Cup cheating scandal and tries to unravel the truth of what really happened - or, failing that, what the heck these events could mean to chess. If you’d like to read a time-coded transcript of this or any other episodes, visit rookedpodcast.xyz/transcripts. Support us on Patreon and access monthly bonus content: www.patreon.com/rooked Written, hosted, edited, and produced by Jess Schmidt and Ryan Webb. Music by Lorna Gildfedder. Marketing by Bailey Simone Photography. Featured in this episode: Bill Cole, The Mental Game Coach David Franklin, Associate Professor of Law Mike Boyd, The Guy That Learns Things Youtube channel Ben Johnson, host of The Perpetual Chess Podcast Emilia Castelao, FIDE historian Chess Teacher JJ Lang and Therapist Julia Rios, hosts of chessfeels podcast James Canty III, FIDE Master and Chess Streamer Sources The Rehearsal - "Eating poo is Satanic" "With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility" Scene - Spider-Man (2002) Movie CLIP HD Brian Telling His Followers He Is Not the Messiah - Monty Python's Life of Brian Dude, Where's My Car? (5/5) Movie CLIP - Zoltan Meeting (2000) HD Chess Handshakes but it keeps getting worse… UNSEEN FOOTAGE 👉LIONEL MESSI 🤬 : "WHO ARE YOU LOOKING AT ? GO AHEAD YOU STUPID Niemann: Dispute with Sevian a 'Misunderstanding' | Round 12 Friday Night Lights | "Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose" MMIWG Podcasts: https://www.kairoscanada.org/missing-murdered-indigenous-women-girls/podcasts Further reading https://www.mentalgamecoach.com/ https://www.apa.org/ed/graduate/specialize/sports https://ethics.fide.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Decision_Case_2_2023_final_final.pdf Powered by Firstory Hosting

Finally, it’s the episode you’ve been waiting for: we talk about all things cheating, from the device itself (how easy is it to make and use?) to the history of cheating in chess, and what cheating means to the future of the game. Because if everyone is doing it, is it really that big of a deal? Hosted by good producer / bad chess player Jess Schmidt and first-time podcaster / good chess player Ryan Webb, this series explores the events leading up to and following the Sinquefield Cup cheating scandal and tries to unravel the truth of what really happened - or, failing that, what the heck these events could mean to chess. Pause and watch this video at the 6-minute mark: Actually making THAT chess cheat device video - Mike Boyd And pause to watch this one at 8m30s: Does my chess cheat device get past the metal detector? - Mike Boyd Thanks for listening! If you’d like to read a time-coded transcript of this or any other episodes, visit rookedpodcast.xyz/transcripts. Support us on Patreon and access monthly bonus content: www.patreon.com/rooked Written, hosted, edited, and produced by Jess Schmidt and Ryan Webb. Music by Lorna Gildfedder. Featured in this episode: Mike Boyd, The Guy That Learns Things Youtube channel Chess Teacher JJ Lang and Therapist Julia Rios, hosts of chessfeels podcast David Franklin, Associate Professor of Law Brin-Jonathan Butler, author of The Grandmaster: Magnus Carlsen and the Match That Made Chess Great Again Bill Cole, The Mental Game Coach Ben Johnson, host of The Perpetual Chess Podcast James Canty III, FIDE Master and Chess Streamer Emilia Castelao, FIDE historian Sources: Hans Niemann gets carefully scanned - Sinquefield Cup I'LL STRIP COMPLETELY NAKED Hans Niemann defends his cheating allegations CLASSIC SCENE: Pulp Fiction NASA: What does space sound like? Hans Niemann VS Fabi In Crucial US Championship Game, Magnus Starts Drama In Qatar Hans Niemann vs Piers Morgan (ERIC REACTS) Shrek (2001) - Do You Know the Muffin Man? Scene (2/10) | Movieclips My match against Hans Niemann. Detailed analysis Kramnik on the C-Squared podcast GM Tigran Petrosian responds to Wesley So's cheating allegations 🍿 PIPI IN YOUR PAMPERS!!!! Hans Niemann: My proposition to Vladimir Kramnik Announcing the Hans Niemann scholarship Tweet: Niemann's performance is out of this world Magnus Carlsen: "I was completely crushed in my game today..." Magnus Carlsen: "I did ask an arbiter during the game whether watches were allowed..." Magnus Carlsen: "Just to be clear, I am not accusing my opponent today of cheating." Tweet: FIDE Laws 11.3.2 Confessions of a serial chess cheat: I’m quite enjoying the Carlsen v Niemann fallout How to realistically elevate the status of Indigenous languages by Brittany McDonald  Further reading FIDE Handbook Anti-Cheating Regulations The biggest cheating scandals in chess The History of Cheating in Chess Powered by Firstory Hosting

Hans Niemann had already made a name for himself in chess prior to the 2022 Sinquefield Cup scandal…the bad boy of chess, plagued by online cheating revelations, and already marked as an oddball at the young age of 19. And to be considered weird by the chess world means you’ve really got some baggage (looking at you, Bobby Fischer (RIP)). But what exactly did Hans do to earn the ire of Magnus Carlsen and his legion of fans - was it really just the OTB cheating allegations? Or were Hans and Magnus already enemies even before the events at Sinquefield? Was it really all just a business acquisition cover-up? Why did Hans walk away from a lucrative streaming career to lock himself in hotel rooms across Europe, only leaving his room to play in tournaments and practicing chess 15 hours per day? If we had questions about the unknowability of Magnus last time, buckle up - because hosts Jess and Ryan have even more questions about the weirdness that is Hans “The Heel” Niemann. Hosted by good producer / bad chess player Jess Schmidt and first-time podcaster / good chess player Ryan Webb, this series explores the events leading up to and following the Sinquefield Cup cheating scandal and tries to unravel the truth of what really happened - or, failing that, what the heck these events could mean to chess. Thanks for listening! If you’d like to read a time-coded transcript of this or any other episodes, visit rookedpodcast.xyz/transcripts. Support Rooked: The Cheaters' Gambit at patreon.com/rooked to access exclusive content or buymeacoffee.com/rooked Written, hosted, and produced by Jess Schmidt and Ryan Webb. Edited, mixed, and mastered by Jess Schmidt. Music by Lorna Gildfedder. Executive producers are Rooney and Indigo Schmidt-Webb (ruff, ruff! Awooooo!) Featured in this episode: Ben Johnson, host of The Perpetual Chess Podcast Brin-Jonathan Butler, author of The Grandmaster: Magnus Carlsen and the Match That Made Chess Great Again David Franklin, Associate Professor of Law James Canty III, FIDE Master and Chess Streamer Emilia Castelao, FIDE historian Chess Teacher JJ Lang and Therapist Julia Rios, hosts of chessfeels podcast Mike Boyd, Youtuber Sources The Perpetual Chess Podcast: Ep 271, GM Hans Niemann on his rapid climb up the chess rankings and what’s next for him in 2022 https://www.perpetualchesspod.com/new-blog/2022/3/22/ep-271-ep-271-gm-hans-niemann-on-his-rapid-climb-up-the-chess-rankings-and-whats-next-for-him-in-2022 Hans and Magnus beach day at 2022 FTX Crypto Cup https://www.chessdom.com/the-carlsen-niemann-conflict-is-more-recent-than-everyone-thinks/ Reddit: Where is Hans Niemann’s accent from? https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/x6srsv/where_is_hans_niemanns_accent_from/ A Plague on Both Your Houses!! [Romeo + Juliet (1996)] Hans Niemann raging for 2 minutes straight Hans Niemann: "One year ago I was a Harvard reject with no potential life" Niemann: I Have NEVER Cheated Over The Board | Round 5 Hans Niemann banned live reaction 😯 Hans Niemann: "My Uber Eats in this event is already maybe $1000!" Carlsen's Withdrawal, Alireza's rise in St. Louis, Allegations | C-Squared Recap - Sinquefield Cup Niemann: Magnus Must Be Embarrassed to Lose to Me | Round 3 Hans Niemann Reacts to Alleged Engine User when GM Hans Niemann gets banned from chess.com Bobby Fischer solves a 15 puzzle in 17 seconds | Carson Tonight Show Twitch - Blacklisted Piers Morgan vs Hans Niemann (And His Lawyer) | The Full Interview Powered by Firstory Hosting

Magnus Carlsen accused Hans Niemann of cheating at the 2022 Sinquefield Cup - but the story leading up to how he got there actually started over 30 years ago. Magnus was captivating the chess world way before this scandal: from breaking records and claiming his place among the greatest players of all time, to winning on and off the chessboard in poker and fantasy football, to selling a multi-million dollar website and app - Magnus is a cultural phenomenon. But like many phenomena, he’s not entirely…knowable. Even authors writing entire books about him can’t get an interview with the man himself (but we got an interview with one of those authors to talk about that). Hosts Jess and Ryan take it upon themselves to try and figure out why Magnus so publicly accused Hans Niemann of cheating, how he’s been allowed to behave like no other chess player possibly can…and what he stands to gain from the scandal. CONTENT WARNING: This episode briefly mentions autoerotic asphyxiation (skip from 9:30 to 9:46), sexual abuse (27:30 to 29:00), and child abuse (turn this episode off at the 61-minute mark and pick up with the next episode). Please take care. Hosted by good producer / bad chess player Jess Schmidt and first-time podcaster / good chess player Ryan Webb, this series explores the events leading up to and following the Sinquefield Cup cheating scandal and tries to unravel the truth of what really happened - or, failing that, what the heck these events could mean to chess. Thanks for listening! If you’d like to read a time-coded transcript of this or any other episodes, visit rookedpodcast.xyz/transcripts. Written, hosted, and produced by Jess Schmidt and Ryan Webb. Edited, mixed, and mastered by Jess Schmidt. Music by Lorna Gildfedder. Executive producers are Rooney and Indigo Schmidt-Webb (ruff, ruff! Awooooo!) Featured in this episode: Brin-Jonathan Butler, author of The Grandmaster: Magnus Carlsen and the Match That Made Chess Great Again Bill Cole, The Mental Game Coach David Franklin, Associate Professor of Law James Canty III, FIDE Master and Chess Streamer Mike Boyd, Youtuber “Magnus Carlsen, World Chess Champion, is Kind of a Dick” https://www.vice.com/en/article/dpwy5w/magnus-carlsen-world-chess-champion-is-kind-of-a-dick “On the Probability of Magnus Carlsen reaching 2900” https://arxiv.org/pdf/2208.09563.pdf Best of Magnus Carlsen - Funniest Moments Part 1 Best of Magnus Carlsen - Funniest Moments Part 2 Magnus: "Why am I spending time playing classical chess which I find stressful and boring?" Magnus Carlsen Strikes Back at Maurice Ashley! | 2017 Paris Grand Chess Tour Magnus Carlsen: After No Rivals, Hikaru is my Second Main Rival DRUNK Magnus Carlsen CHEATS to beat Daniel Naroditsky Carlsen Cheats to Win in 11 Moves Powered by Firstory Hosting

The date is September 4th, 2022. Two elite players sit down at a chess board. In the third round of action at the Sinquefield Cup in St. Louis, Missouri, the number one classical chess player in the world Magnus Carlsen loses to 19-year-old Grandmaster Hans Niemann, who has been making his name as the bad boy of chess. Magnus accuses Hans of cheating - and this ends up being the first domino to fall in what would soon become one of the most outrageous scandals to shock the chess world. Anal beads, Elon Musk, and a $400-million dollar lawsuit ensue…in that order. And that’s just the beginning. CONTENT WARNING: This episode briefly mentions sexual abuse within the chess community and physical abuse by law enforcement in the last 10 minutes of this episode. If you wish to avoid mention of either or both of these topics, you can turn this episode off at the 57-minute mark or 60-minute mark, respectively, and pick up with the next episode.  Hosted by good producer / bad chess player Jess Schmidt and first-time podcaster / good chess player Ryan Webb, this series explores the events leading up to and following the Sinquefield Cup cheating scandal and tries to unravel the truth of what really happened - or, failing that, what the heck these events could mean to chess. Thanks for listening! If you’d like to read a time coded transcript of this or any other episodes, visit rookedpodcast.xyz/transcripts Written, hosted, and produced by Jess Schmidt and Ryan Webb. Edited, mixed, and mastered by Jess Schmidt. Music by Lorna Gildfedder. Executive producers are Rooney and Indigo Schmidt-Webb (ruff, ruff! Awooooo!) Clips featured in this episode: “Niemann: Magnus Must Be Embarrassed to Lose to Me | Round 3”, Saint Louis Chess Club: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCeJrItfQqw “All Hans Niemann Interviews at the FTX Crypto Cup”, Chess Island: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=at74bySfZ40 “Jose Mourinho - If I speak I'm in big trouble”, Arman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wtvXoXh0VU “BREAKING: Magnus Carlsen Will Not Play Today | Round 4”, Saint Louis Chess Club: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kiD2uT5V8A “Hikaru's Stunned Reaction to Magnus' Withdrawal”, GM Hikaru Clips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2TlPxjqE_w&t=129s “Hikaru comment on Hans”, GM Hikaru: https://clips.twitch.tv/SuccessfulHardPuppyKappaWealth-oNxkQ8JeSktXQ3SK “Hans not allowed to play for 6 months on chesscom”, GM Hikaru: https://www.twitch.tv/gmhikaru/clip/BlitheDrabSwordJKanStyle-5yUuq5mQoGpjKl2N “Niemann: I Have NEVER Cheated Over The Board | Round 5”, Saint Louis Chess Club: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJZuT-_kij0&t=1116s “Tony Rich: Magnus’s Decision is Personal | Round 4”, Saint Louis Chess Club: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VElLYxf08C0 “Wesley So: Lost Sleep Over Drama | Round 5”, Saint Louis Chess Club: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kr1Btm8wd4w “Magnus Carlsen RESIGNS on MOVE 2 against Hans Niemann!!!”, chess24.5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfLbPO9RRa0 “Magnus Carlsen on The Last Tournament (FULL INTERVIEW)”, Magnus Carlsen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c50PJmOj2-U “Meanwhile... Sitting Is Killing Us | Anal Bead Chess Scandal”, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLwyhmmEoAQ “Magnus Carlsen and Hans Niemann cheating saga: Full explanation by GothamChess”, Lex Clips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIDIfOtHS2E Powered by Firstory Hosting

Welcome to Rooked - the podcast that explores the ongoing (and very dramatic) chess cheating controversy. Two men sit down at a chessboard in front of thousands of spectators both in person and online. One controversial win later, accusations of cheating, lies, and anal beads start to fly. (Yeah, you read that right.) This story has made for some wild news headlines, but beneath the facade is a fascinating tale that could have wide-reaching implications for one of humankind's most competitive and strategic board games. Who is telling the truth? What does a cheater stand to gain in this game? Why is Elon Musk tweeting about morse code anal beads, and what does that have to do with the future of chess? Join hosts Jess Schmidt, podcast producer (and terrible chess player), and Ryan Webb, avid chess enthusiast (and just okay player) as they unravel the true facts of this case and attempt to discover who the real hero - and villain(s) - could be. This limited-run series debuts early 2023 - subscribe so that you don't miss a single episode. Absolute bangers (aka music) composed by Lorna Gilfedder. Visit our website at rookedpod.xyz to learn more about the show, access transcripts, and discover some neato Easter eggs. Powered by Firstory Hosting