# Danny Rensch & Dark Squares: Chess, Cults, and Survival

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**Date:** March 15, 2026 · 10:00 PM  
**Location:** Hilton Austin Downtown / Salon A  
**Format:** Book Reading  
**Track:** Culture  
**Reviews:** 0

## Speakers

- **Danny Rensch** — Chief Chess Officer

International Chess Master, Chess.com co-founder, and leading voice for the global chess movement, Danny Rensch will take the stage at SXSW to discuss his newly released memoir. Described as Educated meets The Queen’s Gambit, the book offers a gripping, deeply personal account of his childhood inside an abusive cult and the extraordinary role chess played in helping him survive, rebuild, and ultimately change the trajectory of his life.

## Transcript

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